• No matter if you're a mountain biker heading into the backcountry, a road biker commuting to a century ride, or you just want to transport a few bikes from point A to point B, you'll need a reliable bike rack for your vehicle. 
• The best bike racks securely hold your bike in place, avoid damaging both your bike and your vehicle, and are easy to load and unload with one or two people. 
• Our top pick, the Thule T2 Pro XT 2 Bike Rack, is a quality hitch-mounted rack that holds a variety of bike sizes and tire shapes, allows access to a vehicle's trunk or hatchback, and is incredibly durable. 

Whether you're loading up your mountain bike to head to the trail, transporting your roadie to a race, or taking the entire family's commuters to a ride along a scenic route, a bike rack is an essential piece of equipment for any cyclist. 

Being able to safely and securely carry your bike with you wherever you go truly opens up the possibilities of where and when you can ride. For that reason alone, having a bike rack at your disposal proves just as handy as owning a bike lock or tire pump.

How to shop for a bike rack

Having loaded and unloaded my fair share of just about every style of bike onto sedans, vans, trucks, and everything in between, I've learned many times that one bike rack does not fit all. Selecting the right rack requires research beyond just the type of riding you plan on doing. You'll want to consider your vehicle, how many bikes you plan on transporting, how much you want to spend, and your preferred style of rack itself.

Depending on how you answer the above considerations, expect to decide between these three separate styles of bike rack:

• Hitch rack: A hitch rack connects to your vehicle's trailer hitch for easy loading and unloading. This style of rack tends to limit rear visibility and weighs more than others, but it provides excellent carrying capacity and stability. Tray hitch racks are generally better than hanging hitch racks because they're easier to load and don't grip the bike frame, which is important if you're concerned about scratching your paint job.
• Trunk racks: This style connects to the trunk or hatch of your car using straps, buckles, and hooks. When firmly secured in place, they can be surprisingly stable, although they do hinder rear visibility and make it difficult to access the trunk. On the plus side, these racks are lightweight, affordable, and easy to use. 
• Roof racks: Roof racks mount on top of your vehicle, meaning they don't inhibit sightlines nor do they prevent you from accessing the back. They can also be fairly versatile, making it easy to transport things like kayaks or stand-up paddle boards, too. The downside of a roof rack is that they tend to be expensive and loading bikes all the way up onto the rack can be a challenge, particularly for a solo rider.

While testing the best bike racks currently available, we examined options from some of the top brands like Thule, Yakima, and Kuat. Our guide features racks that are user-friendly, can fit an array of bike types, and will keep your car from getting scratched. We even included one that's easy on the wallet, too. 

Click here to see a rundown of how we tested each bike rack.

Here are the best bike racks:

• Best bike rack overall: Thule T2 Pro XT 2 Bike Rack
• Best roof bike rack: Yakima HighRoad Top Car Bike Rack
• Best trunk bike rack: Saris Bones 3-Bike Trunk Rack
• Best lightweight hitch bike rack: Kuat Racks Sherpa 2.0 Bike Rack
• Best budget roof bike rack: Swagman Upright Roof Mount Bike Rack
• Best budget trunk bike rack: Allen Sports Premier Trunk Mounted Bike Rack

Updated on 9/29/2020 by Rick Stella: Updated the section on how to shop for a bike rack, added a slide describing our testing methodology, checked the availability of all featured bike racks, and updated the prices and links where necessary.

The best bike rack overall

If you're looking for a heavy-duty hitch bike rack that still allows you to access your hatchback or truck bed, the Thule T2 Pro XT 2 Bike Rack is an expensive but incredibly well-designed solution.

Versatility and simplicity are what set the Thule T2 Pro XT 2 Bike Rack apart from other alternatives. This Thule rack has a frame-free ratcheting arm that quickly and easily secures bikes with wheels from 20 to 29 inches in size. It even accommodates fat tire models up to 5 inches thick, making this one of the more versatile options on the market. 

The rack has a tool-free attachment knob that allows it to easily slide onto your hitch during the installation process without requiring much effort. You may still need some help getting it perfectly into place, however, as it weighs more than 50 pounds.

One of the defining features of the T2 Pro XT is its ability to easily tilt up and down. This allows it to be moved out of the way in order to grant access to a hatchback or trunk. If you need to get something out of the back of your car, simply pull the rack down and it slips out of the way. When you're done, just pull it up and lock it into place again. The entire process is so simple that it can be done with just one hand. 

As you'd expect from Thule, this rack gets high marks for durability. It's incredibly well-built and provides excellent stability, holding bikes of various sizes securely in place. The T2 Pro XT's dual ratcheting arm system is intuitive to use, too, making it easy to transition to and from a ride with a minimum amount of hassle. 

When designing this bike rack, Thule put a great deal of thought into the needs of its customers. Little details like being able to widen the distance between the wheel trays in order to accommodate larger bikes is a much-appreciated feature. Owners can even elect to add two additional trays to the T2 Pro XT, expanding its capacity from two bikes to as many as four. Those are the kinds of touches that help this product stand out from the competition and earn our picks as the best overall bike rack available. 

That said, we do have a few nits to pick with the T2 Pro XT, although they are fairly minor. For starters, the durability of this rack does make it quite heavy when compared to most other models. It comes with a hefty price tag, as well. 

Pros: Tilts for easy hatchback access, holds a broad array of bike types, durable, versatile, and expandable

Cons: Expensive, confusing assembly instructions, heavy

The best roof bike rack

The Yakima HighRoad Top Car Bike Rack allows for quick-loading of bikes and is ideal for cyclists who prefer hauling gear on top of their car.

The Yakima HighRoad Top Car Bike Rack is different from other roof-mounted bike racks because it doesn't require that you remove your bike's front tire to load it. The HighRoad comes with two hoops that clamp securely onto the front wheel, holding it firmly in place. Once the wheel is in position, turning a torque knob locks it down further, limiting movement without damaging the wheel or frame. The rear wheel is then held in place with a strap, adding extra security and stability in the process. 

The HighRoad's ease of installation is another one of its strengths. The rack attaches using a single back strap and two front straps which connect to the crossbar of your vehicle without the need for tools. When tightened down, the straps confidently hold the entire apparatus in place. The installation process takes just a few minutes to complete and removing the rack when not in use is relatively easy, too. 

Yakima's HighRoad is also fairly versatile in terms of what it can carry. The rack accommodates bikes with wheel sizes of 26 to 29 inches and tires as wide as 4 inches thick. That means it can handle road bikes, mountain bikes, and fat tire models. It can even hold kids' bikes should the need arise.

The design of the HighRoad is unique in that it's able to hold a bike in place without directly touching the frame. This minimizes the chances of scratching the paint or bending the frame. This is especially important for those who ride costly carbon fiber models.

Installation is also simple. It requires you to simply attach the back strap and two front straps to the crossbar of your car and tighten them down so there's no movement. As with all roof racks, the HighRoad keeps sight lines clear and doesn't inhibit access to the rear of the vehicle. Loading and unloading can be quite challenging however, particularly for shorter riders or those with heavier bikes.

Yakima has also had a bit of an odd oversight when it comes to this rack. While the HighRoad does support lock cores, it doesn't include them out of the box. That means you'll have to add your own, increasing the cost somewhat. 

Pros: Holds a variety of bikes securely, doesn't come in contact with the frame, easy installation

Cons: Must be used with crossbars, doesn't come with built-in locks

Yakima SKS Lock Keys & Cores

Yakima HighRoad Top Car Bike Rack

The best trunk bike rack

The Saris Bones EX 3-Bike trunk rack is designed to fit nearly any vehicle, making it a great investment for any cyclist. 

The Saris Bones EX 3-Bike is an upgraded version of the classic Bones model that's been in the company's line-up for decades. It brings updated styling and a new system for attaching the rack to a vehicle that allows it to be compatible with 90% of the cars, hatchbacks, and SUVs on the market. That even includes vehicles with spoilers, which have always been particularly challenging for trunk-mounted racks. This expanded compatibility means there's a good chance the Bones EX 3-Bike will not only fit your current car but the next one you buy, too. 

The Bones EX is held in place by some of the best ratchet straps we've seen on a trunk rack. When properly installed, this model locks securely into position, holding two bikes of up to 35 pounds each without any jostling or sliding about. The entire system is designed to avoid touching the vehicle which prevents scratches, scrapes, and dings. Those same ratchet straps also release quickly, making it a breeze to remove the rack when not in use. 

As with previous versions of the Bones trunk rack, the EX is made from injection-molded plastic. This makes it highly durable and strong, while also being resistant to rusting. This allows the rack to be surprisingly light as well, tipping the scales at just 11 pounds. As if that wasn't enough, the frame is also made from 100% recycled plastic, making this an environmentally friendly product and, as with all of its products, Saris backs the Bones EX with a lifetime warranty. 

Other nice touches include an integrated strap management system that maintains a clean look and keeps the straps out of the way while the rack is installed. The Bones EX's design also positions the bikes on separate levels, ensuring they're less likely to become intertwined while in transit. The straps and support arms are easy to load, getting you on your way in no time at all.

As with most trunk racks, the Bones EX makes it challenging to get in and out of the trunk or hatchback of the vehicle it's mounted on. It's also a bit expensive with a price tag of $205. That said, the EX's ability to fit on a broader range of cars makes that added cost a good investment for the future. 

Pros: Lightweight, compact, easy to install, compatible with a wide range of vehicles, made from recycled plastics

Cons: Restricts access to trunk or hatchback, a little pricier than other trunk racks

The best lightweight hitch bike rack

If you're looking for a lightweight hitch rack that's durable, easy to load, and allows access to your trunk when installed, the Kuat Sherpa 2.0 is the model for you.

For a heavy-duty hitch bike rack, the Kuat Sherpa 2.0 is surprisingly light. Thanks to its all-aluminum construction, it manages to weigh in at a mere 31 pounds, putting it amongst the lightest hitch-mounted, tray racks on the market. This gives it the added benefit of being easy to remove and install as needed. 

The Sherpa 2.0 secures your bikes using a system that includes a front tire ratchet arm and a rear tire strap. Quick and efficient to use, this approach allows bikes to be locked into place without the rack coming into contact with the frame. Folding tire cradles click neatly into place when in use, but efficiently slide out of the way when they aren't needed. Each of these features work seamlessly together, making it easy to load and unload two bikes that weigh as much as 40 pounds each. 

When designing the Sherpa 2.0, Kuat cleverly integrated a foot-activated pivot system. This allows owners to open the rack and move it into position with the tap of their foot, making it easy to use even while carrying a bike. The level of convenience this feature delivers is difficult to convey but it's something you're likely to find yourself using more often than you think. 

This rack has the added benefit of being incredibly easy to install, with an intuitive, straight forward assembly process. Because the Sherpa 2.0 is so lightweight, that installation can usually be accomplished by a single person. Once in place, loading and unloading bikes takes about a minute, which is exactly what you want both before and after a ride. Best of all, the rack is built to tilt out of the way, allowing unfettered access to the back of the vehicle it's mounted on. 

Unlike some hitch racks, the Sherpa can't be expanded in size nor can it accommodate fat bikes. It's lightweight limits the size of the load it can carry, too, which is why it caps out at bikes that weigh 40 pounds. Most conventional bikes fall below that threshold, of course, but this model would have issues with heavier ebikes for instance. 

Pros: Very lightweight, tilts for hatchback access, plenty of space between bikes, easy to load

Cons: Doesn't hold bikes with fat tires or those that weigh over 40 pounds

The best budget roof bike rack

Swagman's Upright roof-mounted bike rack is inexpensive, easy to install on cars with crossbars, and allows anyone to quickly mount their bike, even without taking a tire off. 

I've had a car roof rack for many years, but I never had the proper accessories to mount my bike on top. Since I'm riding my bike a lot more now, I decided it was finally time to get one. When I started doing research on bike mounts, I realized they can be rather expensive, especially if you go to popular name brands.

I got a great deal and paid $119 for my mountain bike during eBay's Prime Day-adjacent sale a few years ago, so paying a couple hundred for a single bike mount didn't sit well with me. I went with the Swagman Upright mount simply because it's cheap (I got two of them for less than one mount from a name brand) and it turned out to be great. It was easy to install, it keeps my bike secure, and is lockable. I did add a bungee cord for extra security, but I would've done that even with a more expensive mount. — Amir Ismael, style and grooming reporter

Pros: Inexpensive, installs easily onto existing crossbars, features a locking mechanism to hold the bike in place, fits a wide range of bike styles

Cons: Holds just one bike

The best budget bike rack

The Allen Sports Premier Trunk Rack offers an affordable way to transport your bikes without sacrificing quality.

Allen Sports has been making high quality, low cost bike racks for years, and while it may not have all the bells and whistles found on the higher priced competition, it does offer a lot of bang for the buck. Its Premier Trunk Rack is the perfect example as it offers a simple, yet elegant design that easily meets the needs of most riders, without doing much damage to their bank account. 

Installing the Premier Trunk Rack isn't especially difficult, but it does take a little getting used to. The first few times you put it on your car it may seem a bit confusing, but once you get the hang of it, it soon becomes second nature. Allen Sports even designed it to be compatible with most cars, hatchbacks, SUVs, and even minivans, so it's highly likely to accommodate whatever vehicle you have. Removing the rack is equally easy, requiring just a few seconds to take it off when not in use.

Built to hold two bikes with a weight of up to 35 pounds each, the Premier Trunk Rack isn't the most robust bike rack on the market. Still, it does a great job of securely holding its cargo in place. Loading bikes on and off the support arms is quick and easy, with simple and rugged straps ensuring your bikes don't jostle about while in transit. There's even a strap that can be used to prevent the front wheel from bouncing back and forth, protecting your vehicle from potential damage in the process. 

The Premier Trunk Rack is surprisingly versatile, especially for a budget priced model. It accommodates a wide variety of bikes, including road bikes, mountain bikes, kids' bikes, and even fat bikes, provided they don't exceed the 35-pound weight limit. That's not a particularly high limit but it's still enough to handle the vast majority of consumer options.

Due to its budget price, the quality of the materials used to manufacture this rack aren't on par with most higher priced models. It still feels plenty sturdy and will likely last for quite a long time, though. Even Allen Sports backs that up with a lifetime warranty on the Premier Trunk Rack. This should help alleviate any concerns over its long-term durability. 

But there are a number of small details that remind us that it's a low-cost model. For instance, over time, the straps used to secure the rack can come loose, requiring riders to periodically tighten them in order to hold firmly in place. The metal clips on the ends of those straps also lack any type of protective coating, which could cause them to scratch a car's paint. In another cost-saving move, the rack doesn't have a locking mechanism to protect the bikes from would-be thieves. Those may seem like small oversights but they are important to consider, nonetheless. 

Of course, the best thing about the Allen Sports Premier Trunk Rack is its price. At $99.97, it's a bargain when you consider everything it brings to the table. This makes it a great choice for casual riders or someone who doesn't have the budget to spend $200+ on a rack they only use from time to time. It may lack some of the features of its pricier competition, but it more than holds its own when it comes to meeting the needs of most people. 

Pros: Affordable, holds a wide array of bike types, can easily fit in your trunk when not in use, lifetime warranty

Cons: Metal hooks could potentially scratch your vehicle, no locking mechanism

How we test

Each bike rack featured in this guide went through a number of on-vehicle tests to judge how well it compared across these four categories: Ease of installation, ease of use, versatility, and value. Here's how each category specifically factored into our decision-making process for which racks made this guide:

• Ease of installation: Ordering a bike rack online means (most of the time) that you'll be tasked with installing the rack onto your vehicle yourself. Regardless of if it's a roof-, hitch-, or trunk-mounted rack, the installation process isn't always an easy chore. This isn't a complete dealbreaker of a category but it is still a vital consideration.
• Ease of use: A bike rack won't be completely easy to use (be it installing it or affixing your bikes to it) but there should be some amount of modest intuitiveness to it that you won't have to references the owner's manual each time you load or unload your bikes. Ideally, the correct rack would take anywhere from a few minutes on up to maybe five minutes (max) to load or unload — if you're spending upwards of 10 minutes or more, that's a lot of time to take away from actually riding.
• Versatility: Judging a bike rack by how many bikes it can carry is a tough trait to properly assess as almost all racks are designed to haul a specific number of bikes. Versatility, however, is a much better distinction, even if it's a broader term. This means that a bike rack may be able to carry several at once but also that it has the versatility to be used on different vehicles or could even offer the option of carrying something other than a bike.
• Value: A bike rack's value is the sum of the three categories above, as well as how much the thing actually costs. We often say that it's smarter to spend a little more on a premium product than to spend less, more often on a cheaply built product, though there are plenty of budget bike racks that are solid and get the job done — two of which are featured in this guide. 

• Steven DeSanctis of Jefferies told CNBC on Tuesday that many large technology stocks are getting "pricey" and investors should look for alternatives in other sectors. 
• "At nine times revenue, 10 times revenue, it gets a little pricey, and with that any bad news will actually be a huge detriment to these stocks," the equity strategist said, referring to technology stocks. 
• He recommends investors buy stocks in industrials, consumer discretionary, and materials sectors as alternatives to technology.

• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Steven DeSanctis, Jefferies equity strategist, told CNBC on Tuesday that many large technology stocks are getting "pricey" and there are cheaper alternatives that investors can buy now.

"At some point you have to say what is too high," DeSanctis said, referring to tech stock valuations. "At nine times revenue, 10 times revenue, it gets a little pricey, and with that any bad news will actually be a huge detriment to these stocks."

While he said he believes technology companies are fundamentally strong, sectors outside of technology are cheaper alternatives. 

Read more: JPMORGAN: The best defenses against stock-market crashes are delivering their weakest results in a decade. Here are 3 ways to adjust your portfolio for this predicament.

"Our argument is that things outside of tech are actually getting better," the strategist said. 

DeSanctis told investors to look for stocks in industrials, consumer discretionary, and materials sectors. These are set to improve in revenue growth and will gain as the economic backdrop improves in 2021. They also may deliver better earnings growth than large-capitalization technology stocks, he said.

• Unicode released a preview of the new emoji coming to smartphones in 2020 back in January.
• They include more animals, non-gendered characters, and other features.
• They will be included in iOS 14.2 for iPhones, likely in October.
• Here's a look at all 64 of the just-announced new generation of emoji.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Unicode, the cross-industry consortium that decides on text-based standards for the internet, announced 64 new emoji for the year back in January, with more options for animals, plants, and more. Those emoji include polar bears, bubble tea, and even the trans flag. 

The new emoji are included in iOS 14.2, which was just released to developers. These new characters will probably be available for iPhone owners sometime in October. 

Check out all 64 new emoji here:

Smiling face with tear

Disguised face

Pinched fingers (with skin tones)

Anatomical heart

Lungs

Ninja (with skin tones)

Person in tuxedo (with skin tones)

Woman in tuxedo (with skin tones)

Person with veil (with skin tones)

Man with veil (with skin tones)

Woman feeding baby (with skin tones)

Man feeding baby (with skin tones)

Person feeding baby (with skin tones)

Mx. Claus (with skin tones)

People hugging

Black cat

Bison

Mammoth

Beaver

Polar Bear

Dodo

Seal

Beetle

Feather

Cockroach

Fly

Worm

Olive

Flatbread

Potted plant

Bell pepper

Tamales

Teapot

Fondue

Rock

Bubble tea

Log

Hut

Roller skate

Magic wand

Piñata

Nesting dolls

Pickup truck

Sewing needle

Coin

Military helmet

Thong sandal

Accordion

Knot

Saw

Boomerang

Screwdriver

Plunger

Hook

Window

Ladder

Elevator

Mirror

Mouse trap

Placard

Headstone

Toothbrush

Trans flag

Trans symbol

• The Free Application for Federal Student Aid, more commonly called the FAFSA, is a form used to apply for financial aid.
• Undergraduate and graduate students both fill out the FAFSA for student aid, though the available financial aid may differ depending on your student status.
• Make sure you have your personal financial information ready and never hesitate to reach out to your school's financial aid office for help.
• Filling out the FAFSA usually takes less than an hour, but it's a good idea to block out a little more time if you need to look anything up along the way.
• Sign up to get Personal Finance Insider's newsletter in your inbox »

Filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid is a perfect time for a prospective student to get more involved with their own finances and get a better understanding of how a family's money works.

If you are a student, you will need some information from your parents for the FAFSA. But parents, you can't do it alone. Completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid is a team effort. 

The FAFSA opens on October 1.

How to fill out the FAFSA

1. Gather your personal financial information

Before you start filling out the FAFSA, you should gather your basic personal financial information. You'll need your Social Security number, and it may be useful to have the last couple of years' taxes on hand, though you'll be able to import the details directly from the IRS later on. You will also need bank and investment statements.

2. Head to the FAFSA website

Head to the FAFSA website, which is located on the US Department of Education website. This is your online hub to complete your FAFSA. Choose the appropriate button for new FAFSA users or returning users.

3. Create or find your FSA ID

The student and parent should both have their own login for the FAFSA system. You log in with a government ID called the FSA ID. Parents will enter the student's information first and create their FSA ID in the next step.

The FSA ID allows you to log back in and add or edit information later on if you are not able to complete the entire FAFSA today. Parents should not log in as the student or complete the student sections of the FAFSA.

4. Start your FAFSA

The FAFSA opens every year on October 1 for the following school year. It's a good idea to complete your FAFSA as early as possible. This gives you the best opportunity to qualify for the most favorable student aid options. It also gives you a little more time to make your decisions and take care of any paperwork to complete your student loan or work-study applications.

The FAFSA typically includes the following sections: Student Demographics, School Selection, Dependency Status, Parent Demographics, Financial Information, Sign & Submit, and Confirmation.

5. Create a Save Key

The first step along the way is creating a Save Key. Like an FSA ID, this allows you to come back or continue work later on. Students should create this and give it to their parent so they can add their own information later.

6. Enter your personal and school information

The first two sections in the meat of the application focus on the student's personal information and school selection. In the student demographics section, you'll need to enter your name, address, email address, phone number, driver's license number, marital status, citizenship status, Selective Service status, and education history.

On the School Selection tab, you will enter information about your high school and college. If you have your college's Federal School Code, you can enter it here. Or you can look it up with a search system. Once you pick your school and enter your planned housing status, you can move on to information about the household and parents.

7. Dependency and parent demographics

Next up are the sections about the student's household. The questions about dependency status help determine whether the student is financially independent or dependent on the parents for the purposes of financial aid.

The parent demographics section asks for the parents' marital status, birthdates, living situation, household size, and the other people your parents financially support.

8. Financial information

This section is the most important and most detailed of the entire FAFSA. While getting your name and Social Security number right are important, this is what determines what aid you are eligible for and how it is broken down between scholarships and grants, student loans, and other forms of aid.

You'll need your parents' tax information, and depending on when they filed, you may be able to import their tax details and save a lot of time typing in numbers. 

You will need a parent's FSA ID to link the application to the parent's tax return. You will also need some information about your parents' assets (bank accounts and investments).

9. Sign and submit

On the last page, you will review your application for accuracy, sign, and submit the results. It's definitely worth taking the time to double check your application before signing. Once you're done, make sure your parent has also signed if required.

Once everyone has signed and submitted, you can move on to the final page to confirm your FAFSA.

10. Review your FAFSA results

On the confirmation page, you can scroll down to view your estimated expected family contribution. This number shows what the government thinks you can afford to pay. Work with your school's financial aid office to make up the rest.

Student loans may be a great way to help you pay for college, but make sure you really understand what you are getting into. If you navigate the student aid program with your eyes open to the details, you can make the most educated decision on what's best for your family's unique financial needs.

• The Navy has removed references to "man" and "brotherhood" from the SEAL ethos and creed in favor of gender-neutral language.
• A Navy official said previous versions were written before women were allowed to serve as operators in Naval Special Warfare and that the updates are "overdue."
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

The Navy has modified its SEAL ethos and creed for special warfare combatant crewmen to remove references to "man" and "brotherhood" in favor of gender-neutral language, a Navy official said Monday.

"The previous versions of the SEAL Ethos and SWCC Creed were written prior to the law allowing women to serve as operators in Naval Special Warfare," said Lt. Cmdr. Matthew Stroup, a spokesman for Naval Special Warfare Command.

"Updates were overdue," Stroup added, noting that the changes were "favorably endorsed" by each of the unit's major commanders and command master chiefs. The changes were first reported by American Military News.

Adjustments were made to just a handful of words. The SWCC creed, which originally mentioned an "elite brotherhood of sailors" standing ready in our nation's time and need, was changed to an "elite group of maritime warriors."

The SEAL Ethos, meanwhile, declares its special breed of warriors are "common citizens" with an uncommon desire to succeed, in contrast to the "common man" of the original.

"Forged by adversity," the ethos continues, "they stand alongside America's finest special operations forces to serve their country, the American people, and protect their way of life. I am that warrior." (Original: "I am that man.")

Additionally, the final line of the ethos, which formerly opened with "brave men," was changed to "brave SEALs," which, it continues, "have fought and died building the proud tradition and feared reputation that I am bound to uphold. In the worst of conditions, the legacy of my teammates steadies my resolve and silently guides my every deed. I will not fail."

Rear Adm. Collin Green approved the changes in August. Green, who oversaw naval special warfare amid years of headline-grabbing ethical lapses in the tight-knit SEAL community, recently moved to US Special Operations Command.

"The changes do not in any way reflect lowering standards of entry, rather they ensure that all those who meet the requirements to train to become a SEAL or SWCC are represented in the ethos or creed they live out," Stroup said. "This improves the posture of the [naval special warfare] force by ensuring we draw from the greatest pool of talent available."

The Navy has not yet had a female SEAL or special warfare combatant crewman, though a handful of women have attempted training since ground combat restrictions were lifted in 2016. Both specialties require months of physically and mentally demanding training at the naval special warfare center in Coronado, California.

In December, a female Navy officer completed the two-week SEAL officer assessment and selection but was not selected for a SEAL contract, Military.com reported. And that same month, a Navy official confirmed that three enlisted women were at "various stages" of the 37-week training pipeline for special warfare combatant crewmen.

"The SEAL Ethos and SWCC Creed are our community's bedrock guidance," Green wrote in an August 3 memo. "In order to provide more inclusive language, we have revised them to better reflect our diverse ranks now and into the future."

• NASA recently unveiled the plan for its Artemis program, a series of missions that would return astronauts to the moon. 
• A new study reveals how much radiation astronauts are exposed to on the lunar surface: a daily dose about 200 times greater than on Earth.
• NASA wants to build a base on the moon, but the new data suggests it'd be safest to bury such a base under 2.5 feet of moon dirt to protect astronauts from radiation. 
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

NASA wants to build a permanent base on the moon by the 2030s — a place astronauts could stay for extended visits at the lunar south pole.

But according to a new study, any astronauts who go there would face levels of radiation nearly three times higher than what the astronauts on the space station deal with. In high enough doses, long-term exposure to this cosmic radiation poses significant health risks, including cataracts, cancer, and central nervous system diseases. 

The new research, published last week in the journal Science, calculates for the first time what a moon-walker's daily dose of radiation would be — a number not previously known.

"If you think about people staying on the moon for extended periods of time, say on a scientific research station for a year or two, then these levels start getting problematic," Robert Wimmer-Schweingruber, a co-author of the new study, told Business Insider. 

The solution, he said, would be for any lunar base to be built beneath the moon's surface.

"Covering your habitat with sufficient amounts of lunar dirt should do the trick," Wimmer-Schweingruber said.

The first study to calculate radiation on the moon

Apollo astronauts carried radiation-measuring instruments on their missions in the 1960s and 70s, but those dosimeters could only tell scientists the total amount of radiation the astronauts were exposed to throughout their time in space. That's from blast-off to landing and everything in between — not just on the moon.

Wimmer-Schweingruber's team was able to document daily radiation levels on the moon's surface by analyzing data collected by China's Chang'e 4 spacecraft, which landed in January 2019.

A tool aboard Chang'e 4 measured the total amount of radiation it had absorbed, then relayed that radiation data back to Earth via satellites. Then it was simple arithmetic: The researchers divided that total radiation dose by the amount of time the tool had collected data to calculate the daily total. 

"The radiation exposure we have measured is a good benchmark for the radiation within an astronaut suit," Thomas Berger, another co-author of the study, said in a press release. 

200 times the radiation we experience on Earth

Radiation is a catch-all term — in Wimmer-Schweingruber's words, it simply describes "energy being deposited into places in your body that it shouldn't be, to sometimes ill effect." 

On Earth, that energy can come in the form of light and heat, which we can feel, as well as sources like X-rays, which we can't. The planet's strong magnetic field and a thick atmosphere shield the surface from most cosmic radiation, , however, which comes from galactic cosmic rays, solar particles speeding away from the sun, neutrons, and gamma rays.

When people fly on planes, they soar above part of that atmospheric shield, so the dose of radiation they're exposed to increases. Astronauts on the moon, meanwhile, face a daily radiation level five to 10 times higher than Transatlantic fliers, since the moon doesn't have the shield that Earth does.

So an astronaut on the lunar surface would be exposed to 1,369 microsieverts of radiation per day — about 200 times higher than the daily level on Earth. 

"This is a considerable exposure," Wimmer-Schweingruber said.

That's why his team suggests burying lunar bases.

"Ideally you'd like to be under as much material as is equivalent to Earth's atmosphere," Wimmer-Schweingruber said, adding, "an optimal depth is 30 inches of lunar soil."

• The Thanksgiving weekend is the most important time of the year for US airlines.
• However, bookings for November are down as much as 88% compared to this time last year, data from airline analysis firm OAG show.
• Airlines are hoping for a surge in last-minute bookings, keeping with trends during the pandemic, but the industry remains in a tailspin as travel demand fails to sufficiently recover.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Fresh off a weak summer travel season during which Americans largely hunkered at home or took to the roads, America's airlines have a new looming disaster ahead of them: a soft Thanksgiving and holiday travel season.

New analyses by airline analytics firm OAG, along with data provided by Cirium and examined by Business Insider, show that the first holiday travel season of the COVID-19 pandemic may force carriers to make costly decisions as they gamble on whether demand will grow closer to the Thanksgiving weekend.

Apart from modest spikes in demand during the summer, particularly around Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, and Labor Day, demand has settled at a "new normal," roughly 30% of 2019's levels. That's partly because business travel is barely existent right now, while leisure travel remains minimal.

Although carriers hope for stronger demand over the holidays as Americans visit friends and relatives, there are so far no signs of that materializing. American Airlines and United Airlines currently see 25% as many November bookings as they did at this time in 2019, OAG found. Delta Air Lines is looking at just 12% of last year's bookings.

That could spell disaster for struggling US airlines, according to R.W. Mann, an airline industry analyst and consultant.

"The Thanksgiving holidays are typically a peak traffic and profit period. At some airlines, in some years, the single highest profit days," he said. "The Christmas-New Year holiday week can be relatively high volume, depending on the day of week, but not as strong as Thanksgiving days."

Worsening the potential pain, many customers could book travel using vouchers: US carriers owe more than $10 billion to customers over flights cancelled early in the pandemic. Every voucher redeemed is a booking for which the airline earn no new cash (although it does remove a liability from the airlines' balance sheets).

Moreover, leisure bookings are typically cheaper than business fares, meaning airlines will make a lower yield on holiday travel than they would normally hope. Even though holiday bookings are usually leisure-heavy, they're still supplemented by business travelers — people heading home from meetings or site visits, for instance. Since price-conscious holiday travelers book up all the low fares, airlines could make even higher yields than normal from those corporate travelers heading home.

This is particularly bleak as major US airlines try to slow their daily cash burn as the pandemic continues to decimate revenue. Airlines are aiming to reach a daily cash burn rate of zero by the end of the year, after losing as much as $100 million a day during the height of pandemic lockdowns.

Of course, there are also safety and ethical concerns that come with traveling as the US tries to keep the pandemic under control. While the CDC does not specifically recommend avoiding travel, it does suggest that "staying home is the best way to protect yourself and others from COVID-19."

One glimmer of hope remains for the struggling carriers: Lately, passengers have been booking flights closer to departure than ever before, waiting until they know they'll be able to make the trip — and avoid localized virus outbreaks or stringent quarantine restrictions — before booking.

Delta, for instance, is seeing more bookings within seven days of travel than it ever has in the past, CEO Ed Bastian said last week, speaking to investors at a webinar hosted by Neuberger Berman.

"People are deciding to travel short term because they're not quite ready to make longterm plans," Bastian said.

Scheduling and rescheduling as the pandemic crushes travel demand

A last-minute surge, however, could present its own challenges.

In normal times, airlines tend to publish their flight schedules about 11 months in advance, tweaking specific flights or routes as they see how demand actually manifests.

This has largely continued during the pandemic, with airlines publishing complete advance schedules.

However, airlines are now "republishing" their schedules somewhere between 3-6 weeks ahead of time, slashing routes and frequencies based the latest demand forecasts. After these revisions, airlines have generally flown roughly 40-50% of their 2019 capacity.

As of Monday afternoon, Delta was the only one of the big three US airlines to adjust its November schedule, according to data obtained via Cirium. The airline has scheduled 93,233 domestic flights, about 5,400 more than it will fly in October, but down from 139,771 in November 2019. (Those numbers include flights sold by Delta but operated under its brand by regional carriers.)

For November, that's a 33% year-over-year reduction, compared to a 42% year-over-year reduction in October, suggesting that the airline is predicting a last-minute surge in bookings.

Predicting holiday demand is a unique challenge during unprecedented times.

Planning the schedule for Thanksgiving will be tricky, though. Airlines gambling on a late booking surge must decide whether to take planes out of storage, and schedule crews and layovers, well before those bookings would materialize.

Airlines use a variety of data points to predict actual demand, including website visits and searches.

"We've been adjusting our schedules 30 to 45 days out of every month, which enables us to accurately match supply to customer demand much closer in," Ankit Gupta, United's head of domestic network and route planning, told Business Insider in a statement.

But the scale of potential last minute Thanksgiving travel leaves little room for error. If an airline overestimates, it could end up with half-full planes criss-crossing the US, operating at a loss as airlines try to slow their daily cash burn. If it underestimates demand, it risks upsetting customers who can't find flights home for the holidays, and losing out on potential revenue. 

Whether that surge materializes also depends on perception of the pandemic itself at the time. People have largely avoided flying in order to avoid having to follow quarantine requirements set by some states, as well as anxiety over catching the virus on a plane, in an airport, or during transit — even though the risk of transmission on the plane itself appears to be fairly low.

The good news for airlines is that they have adapted quickly to the new pandemic reality. Plans which previously needed to be cemented weeks to months in advance — like staffing logistics and equipment allocation — can now be adjusted fairly last-minute. Carriers have learned how to build remarkable flexibility into their operations.

"We've been adjusting flight schedules closer in, as well, zero to 10 days from departure," Gupta said, "by looking at customer load factors and switching to larger aircraft as needed."

Even as United prepares to furlough up to 12,000 workers on October 1 and keeps some of its fleet in storage, it will keep extra crews and airplanes on reserve in case of unexpected last-minute demand.

"We're able to add flights to our schedule to accommodate additional customer demand," Gupta said. "In fact, we have been keeping additional aircraft in our schedule on standby for exactly that purpose."

The extra flights can be added in the same zero to 10 day range, he added.

• The London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) is a series of benchmark rates used by lenders to determine other short-term interest rates.
• A variety of financial products like CDs and loans like adjustable-rate mortgages are based on LIBOR, especially the three-month rate.
• Though often a harbinger of trends in bank lending rates, LIBOR is slated to be phased out by 2021. 
• Visit Insider's Investing Reference library for more stories.

Reading the fine print on the terms for a mortgage or a CD, you may come across the phrase "your rate based on the prevalent LIBOR rate." 

The LIBOR, short for London Interbank Offered Rate, is a fluctuating short-term interest rate that influences the way other interest rates are set in the world of finance. It serves as a scale for setting the interest earned by debt instruments, like bonds and derivatives, and the interest charged on consumer loans.

An estimated $350 trillion worth of outstanding loans and trading contracts around the world are based on LIBOR.

What is LIBOR?

Somewhat like the US federal funds rate, LIBOR is an interbank rate: It reflects the interest that major banks charge each other when borrowing for brief periods — anywhere from overnight to 12 months.

Actually, there's no one LIBOR. It is based on five major currencies – the US dollar, the Swiss franc, the euro, the pound sterling, and the Japanese yen. Each currency is compiled for loans of seven different durations, ranging from one night to one year (see "current LIBOR rate" below).

In total, there are 35 LIBOR benchmarks administered and published every business day by the Intercontinental Exchange or ICE Benchmark Administration (IBA). 

How is LIBOR determined?

The IBA gathers a consensus for calculating the average interest rate every morning. Shortly before 7 a.m., the IBA asks an elite panel of 16 global contributor banks how much they are willing to charge other banks for short-term loans.

Chosen annually, this panel has a tight membership consisting of financial institutions with a significant presence in the London market. For example, only the Bank of America, Barclays, Citibank, Deutsche Bank, JPMorgan Chase, and UBS represent the US dollar LIBOR. 

These banks are required to send their answers for each loan maturity period under their country's specific currency. The IBA then calculates the LIBOR employing a standardized, transaction-based, data-driven layered method called the Waterfall Methodology. 

Once finalized, all 35 LIBOR benchmarks are published around 11:55 a.m. London time. 

What is the current LIBOR rate?

The daily fluctuating LIBOR rates vary, depending on the length of the loan. For example, at the end of September 2020, the USD LIBOR rates for loans were:

• OVERNIGHT = 0.08%
• 1 WEEK = 0.11%
• 1 MONTH = 0.15%
• 2 MONTHS = 0.20%
• 3 MONTHS = 0.25%
• 6 MONTHS = 0.29%
• 12 MONTHS = 0.41%

Of all the LIBOR reference rates, the most significant and commonly quoted is the US Dollar Three-Month rate. It is usually referred to as the current LIBOR. 

How does LIBOR affect you?

Ordinary individuals and most companies don't get charged LIBOR rates. But the LIBOR does act as a benchmark for many consumer loans, investments, and other financial products, somewhat like the prime rate in the US. 

Investments Based on LIBOR

The early 1980s saw the development of a whole host of investments based on interest rates and currency exchanges. LIBOR was originally established to offer an interest-rate standard — a baseline rate — for financial products. Some are sophisticated instruments used by multinational corporations, others are as basic as your neighborhood bank's CD.

Financial derivatives

LIBOR is universally used to price interest rate swaps, a financial derivative in which two firms come to an agreement to trade rates. One company wants to receive a payment with a variable interest rate (like LIBOR), while the other wants to limit risk by choosing to receive a fixed-rate payment.

Certificates of Deposit (CD)

If your CD is LIBOR-linked, the bank will provide you an interest rate premium that rises as the LIBOR goes up, or lowers as it goes down. Some CDs average changes quarterly or annually, which ties your CD to the 3-month or 12-month LIBOR. You have the potential to earn a higher interest rate, compared to a fixed-rate CD, but of course, can earn less too. 

Alternative investments 

These include sophisticated vehicles like collateralized debt obligations (CDO), a tranche of income-generating assets repackaged to include LIBOR-tied mortgages, auto loans, and corporate bonds.

Loans Based on LIBOR

Lenders use the LIBOR as an index for determining variable interest rates on your financing products, too. Typically, they add a percentage point or two as a constant margin to the LIBOR rate.

Adjustable-Rate Mortgages (ARM)

Mortgages with floating interest rates are one of the most common products based on LIBOR. The interest rate is fixed for the initial period of your mortgage, then resets according to how the market fluctuates during the remaining period of your loan. 

For example, if you have a 5/1 ARM, it would have a fixed rate for the first five years followed by an adjustable-rate that resets once yearly. That annual reset probably would be based on the 12-month LIBOR. 

Private Student Loans

At many lending institutions, student loans are typically bound to the three-month LIBOR. This is why most student loans are adjusted quarterly. The upside is that most student loan companies put a cap on their interest rates. So even if the LIBOR goes high, your interest rate will not exceed a set ceiling. 

LIBOR past and future

LIBOR dates from 1984. The British Bankers Association created it to establish a reliable source for interest rate-based investments. 

It grew to become a respected benchmark all over the world—until 2012, when news broke that bankers had been rigging rates for years, mainly to help their derivatives traders. 

The scandal led to Britain's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) removing LIBOR from the supervision of the British Bankers Association and turning it over to the ICE Benchmark Administration.

 n 2017, however, FCA made the announcement that it will no longer support LIBOR — the reason being that banks have slowed down lending to each other, making the index less reliable.

LIBOR is set for regulatory phase-out in 2021. After that date, banks will no longer be required to publish their LIBOR rates.

The financial takeaway

LIBOR rates determine the interest rates paid by a variety of investment products and the interest rates charged by variable-rate loans. Trends in LIBOR rates are also often used to estimate the trajectory of central bank rates in the future, and to gauge the overall health of the financial lending system on a global scale.

Replacements for LIBOR after 2021 are already being evaluated. The most likely candidate: the secured overnight financing rate (SOFR), based on transactions in the US Treasury-bill repurchase market. 

Related Coverage in Investing:

Here's what will happen after the death of the magical number underpinning $350 trillion in trades

If you've ever considered putting money in a CD, now is probably the right time to do it

How to get the best mortgage rate on your new home

Fixed-rate vs adjustable-rate mortgage: How to decide which one you should get

How to choose a student loan to get the money you need for college or grad school

• You can pin message conversations on an iPhone to the top of the Messages app using the new software update, iOS 14.
• The Apple Messages app lets you pin up to nine conversations to the top of the app for easy access.
• Conversations can be pinned or unpinned with just a few taps.
• Visit Business Insider's Tech Reference library for more stories.

If you've updated your iPhone to iOS 14, you may have been prompted to pin conversations in your Messages app. This new feature allows you to pin up to nine conversations to the top of the app for easy access, and you can add and delete pins at any time. Note that after you've pinned conversations, any unread messages not part of those conversations will appear beneath your pins. 

How to pin message conversations on an iPhone with iOS 14

1. Go to the Messages app.

2. In the top left corner, tap "Edit."

3. Tap "Edit Pins."

4. Pin messages to the top of the app by tapping the yellow pin icon next to the conversation.

5. When finished, tap "Done."

Alternatively, you can pin a conversation to the top of the app by pressing and holding your finger on a conversation, then tapping "Pin."

How to unpin message conversations on iPhone with iOS 14

1. Go to the Messages app.

2. In the top left corner, tap "Edit."

3. Tap "Edit Pins."

4. Tap the minus "-" symbol next to a name to unpin the conversation.

5. When finished, tap "Done."

Alternatively, you can unpin a conversation by pressing and holding your finger on a conversation, then tapping "Unpin."

Related coverage from Tech Reference:

• How to play iMessage games on an iPhone with your contacts
  

• 'Why are my iPhone messages green?': What green-colored messages mean, and how to turn on iMessage

• How to save audio messages on your iPhone, and change your settings so audio messages won't delete after 2 minutes

• 'Why won't my iPhone update to iOS 14?': How to troubleshoot your iPhone's updating issues in 4 ways

• How to add widgets on your iPhone to quickly access information from your favorite apps in 'Today View'

• US stocks finished down on Tuesday. The tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 index led the Dow and the S&P 500 indexes.
• Investors likely have their eyes on Tuesday night's presidential debate, where President Donald Trump will square off with former Vice President Joe Biden.
• Negotiations about additional fiscal stimulus to help combat the economic decline spurred by the COVID-19 pandemic continued on Tuesday.
• The negotiations between House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin are set to continue on Wednesday.
• Watch major indexes update live here.

US stocks finished the day lower on Tuesday, with the tech-heavy Nasdaq 100, the Dow, and the S&P 500 indexes all sliding into the close.

Investors have their eyes on Tuesday night's presidential debate, where President Donald Trump will square off with Joe Biden, the Democratic nominee, for the first time.

The heightened politics heading into the November election have reduced investors' hope that Congress will soon pass an additional stimulus package. But House Democrats on Monday proposed a COVID-19 relief package worth $2.2 trillion. It would restore the $600 weekly unemployment benefit and has many measures designed to appeal to Republicans, including aid to the airline industry.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin discussed the stimulus package on Tuesday during a nearly one-hour phone call. Negotiations are set to continue on Wednesday.

Here's where US indexes stood soon after the 4 p.m. market close on Tuesday:

• S&P 500: 3,335.38, down 0.48%
• Dow Jones industrial average: 27,451.81, down 0.48% (132 points)
• Nasdaq composite: 11,085.25, down 0.29%

Read more: BANK OF AMERICA: Buy these 11 stocks to profit as e-commerce and robotics revolutionize their businesses and keep them growing faster than peers

A measure of consumer confidence posted its biggest spike in 17 years as consumers bounce back from the economic decline caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

JPMorgan agreed to pay the largest-ever penalty to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, $920 million, and admit wrongdoing to resolve a criminal investigation into "spoofing" trades spanning eight years.

UBS said that while investors could expect the presidential debate to produce little policy substance, it could matter which candidate is thought to be the winner.

"Perceptions of performance and whether candidates were able to change the views of floating voters does make a difference," UBS said.

The economist Mohamed El-Erian said on Monday that investors shouldn't hold out hope for additional stimulus from Congress or the Federal Reserve.

Goldman Sachs said that a Democratic sweep in November would be "modestly positive" for US corporate earnings.

Read more: JPMORGAN: The best defenses against stock-market crashes are delivering their weakest results in a decade. Here are 3 ways to adjust your portfolio for this predicament.

Gold rose as much as 0.93%, to $1,899.14 per ounce. In a note on Tuesday, UBS laid out three reasons investors should buy gold.

Oil prices slid as investors questioned whether demand would sharply bounce back from the COVID-19 pandemic. West Texas Intermediate crude fell as much as 5.32%, to $38.41 per barrel. Brent crude, oil's international benchmark, fell 4.87%, to $40.43 per barrel, at intraday lows.

When you buy through our links, we may earn money from our affiliate partners. Learn more.

• Brands like Casper and Versed previously only sold their products on their own websites. 
• To widen their reach, they now also sell at Target, which has always been a great place to stumble upon new and innovative products. 
• See also: Online startups you may be surprised to know are at Nordstrom

Though a popular business strategy for new startups today is to sell direct-to-consumer through their own websites, the practice often serves as a springboard for other retail opportunities, not an outright boycott. Direct-to-consumer selling hasn't replaced brick-and-mortar stores; rather, it has helped redefine how to create brand experiences and nurture loyal customer followings. 

In a similar fashion, many online startups eventually find their way into popular retail stores that you've been shopping at for years, whether for a limited run or a long-term residency — Leesa mattresses and Burrow at West Elm, or MVMT watches and Lively lingerie at Nordstrom, for example. It's just another way for these startups to get their products in front of more eyes, plus it's undeniably convenient to shop all your favorites at one site and enjoy free shipping and return perks. 

Target is also home to many direct-to-consumer startups you might recognize. It's a diverse bunch of brands: personal care, bedding, food, pets, and more. If I'm remembering my tendency to meander the aisles of Target correctly, it's the perfect place to discover new and interesting brands, so it's no wonder the following 13 online companies have decided to sell through the company.

Versed

Shop Versed skincare at Target here

Target carries many skincare and beauty brands, but it's a little harder to come by clean, vegan, and sustainable products. Versed, with its large variety ranging from cleansing balm to mineral sunscreen, is changing that trend. Its bestsellers are the moisturizing gel-cream, which is light and bouncy without making your face oily, and the clarifying serum, which keeps breakouts at bay with willow bark extract and zinc. The mineral sunscreen is also one we stock up on, here's our full review.

Gravity

Shop Gravity weighted blankets at Target here

Gravity makes our favorite weighted blanket, as well as other products designed to help you fall asleep, like a weighted sleep mask and a memory foam pillow. Though there are now many weighted blanket brands hoping to take up precious real estate on your bed, Gravity is arguably the first to kick off the sleep and relaxation movement and has the high-quality, comfortable blankets to prove it.  

Partake

Shop Partake cookies at Target here

Partake's cookies are not only tasty but also free of the top eight allergens, making them safe for kids (and adults) with food sensitivities. They were created by a mom who couldn't find delicious snacks for her daughter who has serious food allergies. You'll be able to choose from birthday cake, chocolate chip, and cookie butter flavors — or, get all three, just to be safe.  

Casper

Shop Casper mattresses and bedding products at Target here

We've reviewed nearly all of Casper's mattresses, and now you can easily add your favorite into your cart alongside your other Target purchases. The breathable percale Cool Sheets and soft, supportive pillow are also popular choices from the online sleep startup.

Bark

Shop Bark dog treats and toys at Target here

Bark, the company behind dog treat and toy subscription BarkBox, sells adorable individual pet products through Target. If you're not sure whether you want to commit to the subscription, you can get a preview here. Check back often for seasonal themed toys and creative treat flavors like Hawaii Luau Roast Pork and Chicago Hot Dog. Profits from its Snacks That Give Back collection support local animal rescues. Read our review of BarkBox here for an idea of what to expect with Bark.

Native

Shop Native natural deodorant at Target here

Native is aluminum- and paraben-free natural deodorant that's safer for your body and comes in a variety of nice scents. Unlike other deodorants, it doesn't leave a sticky residue and for some users, it lasts even longer than traditional deodorants. It's our top pick for the best natural deodorants, check out our full review here. 

Harry's

Shop Harry's shaving products at Target here

Men's grooming brand Harry's is best known for its high-quality and affordable razors and shaving sets, though it's also broken into haircare and bodycare. Restock on sharp razor blades, treat your skin to gentle body washes, or style your hair to perfection with putty and waxes. Its paraben-, phthalate-, and aluminum-free formulas are better for your body, while its prices are friendly on your wallet. 

Quip

Shop Quip electric toothbrushes at Target here

These sleek, stylish, and lightweight electric toothbrushes from Quip are American Dental Association-approved. I've been using it for more than two years and I'm still impressed. The soft-bristle brush isn't too harsh on your gums, and it pulses every 30 seconds for two minutes to guide your toothbrushing routine.  

Rocketbook

Shop Rocketbook notebooks at Target here

Rocketbook makes innovative, eco-friendly notebooks for the digital age. Using its special pen, you write in the notebook, send its contents to your favorite cloud service, wipe the page clean, then start over. There are multiple styles and versions to suit your needs, whether you're taking notes for school, business meetings, or personal use. Here's our full review.

GIR

Shop GIR spatulas and kitchen tools at Target here

GIR nails the design of a common kitchen tool. Its super heat-resistant silicone spatulas are strong, flexible, and easy to clean — which is why you'll find yourself using it for all your mixing needs and throwing out your old, inferior spatulas. Other noteworthy products from the brand are the silicone lids with strong suction and the Mini Tool Set. 

Hello

Shop Hello oral care products at Target here

Another oral care startup gracing the shelves at Target is Hello, whose claim to fame is natural, fluoride-free whitening toothpaste. They contain ingredients like aloe vera and coconut oil, and taste great, too. If you're interested in the cleaning and whitening power of activated charcoal, it also offers charcoal toothpaste and mouthwash. 

Primal Kitchen

Shop Primal Kitchen supplements and protein bars at Target here

Founded by a former elite endurance athlete, Primal Kitchen was born from the inability to find healthy and delicious salad dressing. Its offerings include mayonnaise and dressings made with avocado oil, and at Target, supplement powders that contain collagen to support your bones, skin, and hair. 

Hidrate Spark

Shop the Hidrate Spark water bottle at Target here

If you can never remember to drink water throughout the day, you might need the Hidrate Spark, a smart water bottle that tracks your water intake and reminds you to meet your daily water intake goal. It connects to fitness and health apps like Apple Health, Fitbit, and MyFitness Pal. 

When you buy through our links, we may earn money from our affiliate partners. Learn more.

• This year, the holiday travel period overlaps with a possible second wave of COVID-19, as well as cold and flu season.
• Many will be left wondering: is it safe to travel for the holidays? Or perhaps more importantly, should I travel?
• If you're considering visiting family or taking an end of year vacation, there are key risks to consider before you hit book.
• We asked three doctors, a microbiologist, and a travel pro for their expert assessments of holiday travel risks, safer choices, and how to protect yourself and others when traveling.
• Read more: Is travel safe? We interviewed experts on risks associated with flying, booking hotels or Airbnbs, renting cars, and more, plus ideas on safe vacations during COVID-19.

After months of quarantine, both mandated and self-imposed, most people are bored, weary, lonesome, and cooped up. For many, a significant period of time has passed since they've seen family and loved ones.

As such, the upcoming holiday season poses a complex set of questions, especially when it comes to travel. Important among them is: Is it safe to travel for the holidays this year? And perhaps even more critical, should I travel during COVID, even if I technically can?

There are plenty of reasons to want to get on the road, whether to celebrate the holidays with family or to simply take a vacation during COVID. In many states, restrictions have become loose enough to make either happen.

But we all bear responsibility, not just to ourselves to and our loved ones, but to the larger community still suffering under the ongoing health threat and economic fallout of the pandemic. 

Which doesn't make addressing that travel dilemma any easier. 

If you're struggling with these questions, we spoke to several experts to help guide decisions about holiday travel during the novel coronavirus. We asked three doctors, a microbiologist, and a travel pro for their assessments on the risks, the best choices to make in search of safer travel, and how to protect yourself and others if you do decide to get on the road.

Just remember, this is an evolving situation. It's crucial to follow guidelines and advice set forth by organizations such as the CDC and WHO, and practice safety measures no matter where you go, including wearing a mask, washing your hands, and maintaining social distancing. You should also consider whether you're leaving or traveling to a hotspot, so as not to contribute to infection spikes.

Keep reading for what medical experts think you should know, plus our tips on safe vacations during COVID. 

Is holiday travel safe during COVID?

With apologies to binary thinkers, there's no one-size-fits-all answer.

Indeed, travel carries inherent risk, which we've detailed extensively.

But individual travelers who plan responsibly and intentionally may decide that the risks they face are minimal, manageable, and worth it in their personal analyses.

"There will always be some risk of exposure to infections when traveling over the holidays, but there are simple things people can do to make it as safe as possible," says Dr. Roy Benaroch, who specializes in pediatrics at Emory University School of Medicine. "Families will have to weigh their own personal risks."

Others consider this level of risk exposure unnecessary and best avoided altogether if possible.

"If it's possible to defer or avoid taking a trip, that is still the safest option," says Dr. Nate Favini, medical lead of the preventative primary care practice Forward, which combines virtual and in-person care with offices around the country. "I would expect that many people are going to want to travel for the holidays and it's likely that coronavirus transmission and cases will pick up again."

In short, he says: "The best advice is still going to be avoiding travel if possible."

Should I travel this holiday season?

While that may be the case, many people are averse to the idea, unwilling to sacrifice, or just plain bummed out by the prospect of canceling plans all year as the pandemic wears on. Some haven't seen family members in close to a year. Others' mental health is suffering under isolation. These are among the considerations that might lead to some aggressive — even desperate — decisions.

Dr. Thomas Russo, chief of the division of infectious disease at the University at Buffalo, told Business Insider, "If you're going to put yourself in situations where you're going to increase your risk, you should choose wisely. What are those activities that are most necessary and most important to you?"

Maybe a generic holiday vacation wouldn't fall into that category this year, but a chance to gather with aging or long-isolated family members might.

"If it's a trip that is important and necessary, I feel relatively safe using the proper protective measures like wearing a mask, distancing, disinfecting, and hand hygiene," Dr. Russo says.

Dr. Favini agrees. "I would only travel this holiday season if it's really necessary, particularly if you're traveling by air or any other form of public transportation," he said.

How can I protect myself if I decide to travel?

If you might encounter crowds — such as in the airport — you're going to want to double down on the CDC-recommended safeguards: Always wear a mask, wear it properly over your nose and mouth, and review which types work best to make sure yours falls into the category. Social distance whenever possible, and wash your hands frequently and thoroughly. You might also consider a face shield for extra eye protection, though the CDC does not recommend them as a substitute for masks.

Also consider your own vulnerabilities, and any risk categories for people in your traveling party, or those you intend to see at your destination.

"If you have to travel, I would urge you to plan your travels in a COVID-safe way. Before making any travel decisions, assess your own risk and the risk of the people that you are traveling to see, such as your social pod," Dr. Favini says. "Additionally, be sure to understand the COVID-19 levels in the area you are traveling to in advance. The best way to travel safely is to plan it out and think about where you are going in relation to the virus."

What should I know about traveling during peak cold/flu season?

"During the winter, many more infections circulate, including influenza, common cold viruses, strep throat, and many other infections," Dr. Benaroch notes. "Fortunately, the same steps that help prevent COVID-19 transmission also help prevent these other infections, like social distancing, wearing masks, and washing your hands frequently. It's a great idea to get the flu vaccine for added protection."

Dr. Favini underscores that traveling during the pandemic is higher-risk than during a typical cold and flu season. "If your travels put you into close contact with other people, for example at airports or on airplanes, that does increase your risk of contracting and spreading the coronavirus. If you can travel by private vehicle, this is obviously much safer."

If you are traveling long distances by car, you will likely need to make stops along the way. But you can minimize the risks involved with such stops by avoiding crowds, wearing your mask (and only stopping where others are also in masks if other people are present), and washing your hands thoroughly and frequently.

If you have to eat on the road, do so outside whenever possible. Even safer: Bring everything you need in the car for picnic pit stops.

How much does the mode of transportation matter?

For those wondering, "is air travel safe during COVID," the answer is, it really depends.

And while we previously broke down many of the risks based on expert input, holiday air travel introduces a whole new set of concerns. It's when airports see peak crowds and delayed flights that often lead to overcrowding, all within an enclosed space. And that's all before you even board the plane.

Given that airlines have taken vastly different approaches to coronavirus safety, research your carrier and choose wisely if you're going to fly. "Delta has taken safety precautions above and beyond most of the others. I would have a preference for flying Delta if you can," Dr. Favini says.

Indeed, Delta has committed to requiring masks, blocking the selection of middle seats, and limiting the number of customers on board through January 6, 2021, among other reassuring restrictions.

Among the list of airlines on the other side of the spectrum — those with less sterling COVID reputations — is Frontier. Rather than reducing capacity on flights, it briefly tried to charge guests for a guarantee of some distancing — a policy it was forced to reverse amid backlash.

Dr. Favini also advises avoiding layovers, flying upper-class cabins with more space between passengers if possible, and considering eye protection. "Bring hand sanitizer and use it often and sanitizing wipes for your tray on the airplane," he adds. "Try to avoid sitting near a bathroom where people tend to congregate during a flight."

Thankfully, air on planes is changed over quite frequently. "Air is brought in from outside of the plane and recycled air is passed through HEPA filters," Dr. Favini notes. "If this is done well, you have fresh air on the flight about every three minutes."

But there are other risks associated with flying to consider, such as the proximity of people both in the airport and on the plane. "The risk really comes from the people sitting closest to you, within three to four rows," Dr. Favini explains. "The less crowded a flight is, the safer it will be. One study from MIT estimated the risk of catching COVID-19 on a flight in the US to be about 1 in 8,000."

Driving in a private vehicle is certainly safer, whether it's a personal vehicle or a rental car. "Though think through your plans for stops," Dr. Favini advises, in line with our tips noted in the section above.

Similarly, he suggests that if you're traveling by train, booking a private train car is preferable. Traveling by train poses more risk than cars because of other passengers, and because, "it does not seem that trains are generally ventilated as well as airplanes."

It is worth noting, though, that Amtrak has promoted several stringent new policies.

If visiting family, should I stay with them or get my own place?

"For a short visit, it will be best to book your own place," Dr. Benaroch says. "During visits together, stay outside if possible and remain six feet apart."

Granted, in many parts of the country, cold winter weather may render staying outside impossible, or at least not for very long. In those cases, and for longer vacations, he suggests that all parties self-quarantine for 14 days before sharing a home together. Once there, they should "stay only with each other.

Before making any plans, Dr. Favini urges a careful analysis of your family's vulnerabilities, risk categories, and medical conditions, what he calls, "the exposure profile" of each person as well as the home where you'd be staying. 

"If one of the guests is high risk for a severe case of COVID-19, and someone else has high exposure levels (for example, they're an essential worker), and you're all staying in a small home, that would be very risky," he says. "On the other hand, if the guests have all been isolating themselves for weeks, no one has medical conditions or exposures, and you have a large space, that would be much safer. You really have to take the exact situation into account."

Many experts consider a private Airbnb or vacation rental to be the safest option, especially when compared to hotels, because you avoid seeing any other guests. Airbnb also offers badges on listings that adhere to extra-stringent cleaning protocols (Enhanced Cleaning Initiative) or cushions of time between guests (Booking Buffer). In a private rental, you can also cook your own food in your own kitchen, and avoid interactions at restaurants.

But if there's no avoiding a hotel, or it's simply your preference, there are many precautions you can take. 

Microbiologist Lisa Yakas with NSF International urges travelers to take as many extra precautions as possible. "Between the COVID-19 pandemic and cold and flu season, this winter will undoubtedly present its fair share of health safety risks," she says. "If you are considering staying in a hotel during this time, take extra precaution and ask the hotel management about its COVID-19 risk mitigation controls before booking your stay. And when checking in to a hotel, take a look around and make sure the hotel has adequate processes in place to minimize COVID risk."

That means avoiding crowds and social distancing, one-way traffic flow at the front desk, all staff in masks, enforcement of guest mask policy, and signage limiting elevator capacity.

If breakfast still feels too communal, she suggests, "You might want to avoid it and ask for a pre-bagged breakfast alternative." And don't only depend on housekeeping to safe-guard your room. "We recommend approaching each of these hot spots with caution and using a disinfectant wipe before use."

How can we protect each other if we're traveling?

So much of this year has been difficult and the last thing you'll want to do is put your loved ones in any sort of health danger.

As such, Dr. Favini advises wearing masks, even when you're just with the family you're visiting, and that COVID-19 testing and self-imposed quarantine periods can help make holiday gatherings much safer.

"If you are asymptomatic and test negative for COVID-19, your likelihood of carrying the virus is low," he says. "If everyone traveling to the gathering gets tested a few days before and self isolates while waiting for their test results, this could substantially lower the risk of COVID-19 spread."

Dr. Benaroch underscores the importance of taking personal responsibility. "To protect each other, do not travel if you're at all sick, or if you've been exposed to someone who either knows or suspects they might have COVID," he says. "In that case, you should quarantine for 14 days. When you do visit together, avoid hugging and staying close to each other — especially avoid kissing."

What should people know about booking tempting holiday travel packages?

Some travelers may want to spend the holidays vacationing in a warm-weather destination. After all, there are plenty of appealing discounts and incentives being offered right now, and to some, it's the perfect antidote to a long year spent at home.

"In normal years, the holidays are one of the most expensive times of year to travel. But this isn't a normal year," says Scott's Cheap Flights founder Scott Keyes. "Because far fewer people are booking holiday flights this year, Christmas fares have precipitously dropped. In fact, we have found more cheap Christmas flights in 2020 than the past five years combined."

But think about whether those discounted fares are worth the risk of flying — especially long haul. And once you arrive, you'll still have to book lodging and face interactions with others and crowds. That puts you at higher risk based on everything shared by our experts above.

If you do decide to take advantage of such deals, consider applying for expedited security programs so you can minimize exposure to crowds in lines. Also, consider buying a travel insurance policy that allows you to cancel for any reason. And of course, follow all the safety recommendations, and quarantine upon arrival home so as to protect others in the event that you did bring back more than just souvenirs to your home.

The overall takeaway from all of our experts, however, is resounding: Be flexible, be responsible, be informed — and be intentional about holiday travel this year, whatever decisions you make in the end.

For more reporting on whether it's safe to travel right now, click a link below to jump directly to related coverage.

• Is travel safe? We interviewed experts on risks associated with flying, booking hotels or Airbnbs, renting cars, and more, plus ideas on safe vacations during COVID-19
• Is flying safe right now? Experts break down the risks associated with boarding a flight during COVID-19.
• Are Airbnbs safe? We spoke to experts, a company representative, and an Airbnb host to share everything you should know before booking someone's home.
• Which is safer: Airbnb or hotels? Here's what doctors say
• Are rental cars safe to drive right now? We talked to 3 leading experts to find out.
• Is it safe to travel by train during a pandemic? Doctors and cleaning experts weigh in, plus details on new protocols from Amtrak to minimize risks.
• Staying in a hotel will be very different post-pandemic — here are new safety and cleaning plans and precautions being implemented by every major hotel brand
• 6 safer, expert-backed ways to take a vacation during the pandemic, from road trips to private vacation homes and remote campsites

• To keep your iPhone's brightness from changing on its own, you should turn off the Auto-Brightness and Night Shift features.
• Auto-Brightness automatically changes your iPhone's screen brightness based on how much light is around you — in a dimmer room, the screen brightness will go down, and in a brighter room it'll go up.
• Night Shift changes the color temperature of your iPhone's screen at night, which can make it appear darker.
• To turn these features off, you'll need to open your Settings app.
• Visit Business Insider's Tech Reference library for more stories.

If your iPhone is up-to-date, chances are your phone's brightness sometimes changes automatically. 

Auto-Brightness, a feature introduced in iOS 11, aims to help users by adjusting the screen brightness through sensors that track how much light is around you. This means your iPhone's brightness automatically becomes brighter in brighter environments, and dimmer in darker ones. It also helps conserve battery life. 

Night Shift, another feature, changes your iPhone's color and brightness during specified times, typically from sunset to sunrise. This helps you fall asleep after looking at your phone.

For some, these can be a bother, because the sensor can be ticked off with just the slightest change, and Night Shift can turn on when you may not be ready for it.

Here's how to turn off Auto-Brightness and Night Shift on your iPhone, and how to adjust the brightness manually once the automatic options are disabled.

How to turn off Auto-Brightness on your iPhone 

To turn off Auto-Brightness, a sensor which changes brightness depending on light conditions, follow these steps: 

1. Launch your Settings app and tap "Accessibility." 

2. Tap "Display & Text Size."

3. Scroll to the very bottom of the page. The last option will be "Auto-Brightness" — flip its switch to the left, so it turns gray. 

How to turn off Night Shift on your iPhone 

To turn off Night Shift, a default iPhone feature that automatically changes the colors of your screen for less strain on your eyes (particularly at night) follow these steps: 

1. Launch Settings. 

2. In Settings, scroll to find "Display & Brightness." 

3. Under "Brightness" and "True Tone" tap "Night Shift" — if Night Shift is on, you may see a listing of set times next to it. Tap this.

4. To turn off Night Shift, tap the "Scheduled" slider so it flips to the left and turns gray. To change the scheduled Night Shift time, tap "From To" and edit the times you want Night Shift to start and end. 

How to change brightness manually on your iPhone

There are two ways to change the brightness manually on iPhone if you've turned auto-brightness and Night Shift off. 

First is the Control Center dropdown menu, which is accessible whether your iPhone is locked or not. 

Swipe down on the top right-hand corner of your screen on an iPhone X or newer (or up from the bottom of your screen on an earlier iPhone model), and change the brightness by sliding your finger up and down on the sun icon. To turn Night Shift on, press and hold the sun icon, and tap the Night Shift icon on the bottom left. 

You can also change the brightness by going to Settings, then Display & Brightness, and then Brightness, and choosing your desired brightness. 

Related coverage from Tech Reference:

• How to keep your iPhone screen on for a longer time, or set it to 'never' turn off
  

• How to find and use the new App Library on your iPhone in iOS 14, to organize or browse through all of your apps

• How to add widgets on your iPhone to quickly access information from your favorite apps in 'Today View'

• How to hide app pages on your iPhone with iOS 14, and declutter your home screen

• How to transfer all of your apps onto a new iPhone, using iCloud or the App Store

When you buy through our links, we may earn money from our affiliate partners. Learn more.

• "Remotely Humorous" is a three-part course available on edX focused on using humor and levity to create better workplaces — both in employee satisfaction and in results.
• Designed by two Stanford lecturers and some of the top writers from Funny or Die and Comedy Central, the course is an adaptation of one of Stanford Graduate School of Business's most popular courses.
• Studies show that humor can contribute to more highly connected teams, more creative and effective ideas, more trustworthy leaders, and more persuasive arguments. 
• The class practices what it preaches and uses a blend of sketch comedy, lecture, and team-building exercises for a fun learning experience.
• The three-course program is $147, but BI readers can sign up for "Remotely Humorous" for 20% off now until September 2021 with the code "EDXHUMOR" at checkout.
• Read more: Yale's most popular class ever is available free online — and the topic is how to be happier in your daily life

Naomi Bagdonas and Connor Diemand-Yauman, two Stanford Graduate School of Business Management lecturers, have created an online course on an unconventional aspect of leadership: levity.

"Remotely Humorous" — a new online specialization offered on edX, the nonprofit education site founded by Harvard and MIT — aims to help leaders create an effective and rewarding company culture, even if it's currently online.

According to the duo, by using humor, leaders can create more bonded, creative, and effective teams, and they can seem to employees like more authentic, competent, and trustworthy people. And while many understand this intuitively (science just confirms what they already know), they're less sure how to utilize humor as an effective tool in the workplace. So, in Bagdonas and Diemand-Yauman's class, that's most of what students learn.

A course on humor in the workplace isn't a class about how to construct a tight 10-minute set. Nor is it Improv 101. Instead, students learn about the mindset and conditions for lightheartedness to arise naturally. Bagdonas and Diemand-Yauman talk about the "five enablers" that act as precursors to humor and levity. 

As well as lecturing at Stanford, the pair teaches improv together. Additionally, Bagdonas has coached executives and celebrities before appearances on shows such as SNL and The Today Show, and Diemand-Yauman is the CEO of Philanthropy University, a small company that has a 100% employee approval rating on Great Place to Work. 

But Bagdonas and Diemand-Yauman didn't just rely on their own impressive backgrounds to develop the content for the class. Not only is the online course adapted from a popular class the two teach at Stanfords GSB with Dr. Jennifer Aaker, but the pair also created a makeshift writers' room made up of top comedy minds from places like Comedy Central and Funny or Die. The end result is an array of engaging content and learning tools that blends sketch comedy, lecture, and team-building exercises. If the point is that coworkers function better in joyful environments with humor and levity, Bagdonas and Diemand-Yauman practice what they preach in creating what Diemand-Yauman refers to as "Hollywood meets Harvard edu-tainment." 

Bagdonas expanded on the idea behind the class and the process in an interview with Business Insider. "We need to drop this façade that we need to be serious all the time to accomplish very serious, very important things," Bagdonas says. "Not only are we teaching about why humor is powerful, but we're actually doing the thing that we're teaching and embodying it in the content." 

How the class is structured

• Conquering Humor Fundamentals

1–2 hours per week for 2 weeks

In the first part of the course, students use professional comedy techniques to discover their sense of humor and how to use it to both bond and increase creativity and positive mental health on virtual teams.

• Priming Your Remote Team for Humor

1–2 hours per week for 2 weeks

Students learn about the five enablers of humor and use team-building techniques to create the ideal conditions for humor to occur in virtual teams.

• Making Remote Humor Stick

1–2 hours per week, for 2 weeks

Finally, the class tackles how to use the three facilitators of levity — what the instructors call "legends, rituals, and offers" — to create a long term virtual company culture of "joy, connection, and effectiveness."

Note: BI readers can sign up for Remotely Humorous: Build Joyful and Resilient Virtual Teams with Humor for 20% off with the code EDXHUMOR at checkout. 

Who should take this course?

While the content is new, much of the foundational points come from the work Diemand-Yauman and Bagdonas do with executive team clients. And, ultimately, there are key takeaways to be learned that are helpful for pretty much everyone. The class can function as a team-building exercise for remote teams who no longer have the option of an offsite event, or provide useful mental health and interpersonal insight for nearly any career.  

How does humor create a better work environment and more effective teams?

Gallup, the popular analytics and advisory company, wrote in 2018 that the question "Do you have a best friend at work?" was among the most controversial it had asked in its 30 years of employee engagement research. In part because some workers have a clear delineation between work and play, and because some would prefer — and think it best — that their employees "leave their humanness at the door." 

On the contrary, Bagdonas, Diemand-Yauman, and Gallup research tend to advise the opposite. Humanness — and, more specifically, connection and joy — make workplaces more efficient and satisfying. Members of highly connected teams benefit from feeling that they have meaningful relationships with their colleagues, effectively communicate, and work well together. 

Scientifically, even talking about shared laughter connects people. Researchers found that having partners reminisce together about moments when they laughed together — as opposed to moments that were merely positive or neutral — reported being more satisfied in their relationships.

Gallup also reported that only two out of 10 US employees strongly agreed to having a close friend at work at the time. And, if that ratio increased to six in 10, organizations would see 12 percent higher profit, 7 percent more engaged customers, and 36 percent fewer safety incidents. And that's just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to how humor, and close bonds, can help improve workplaces. Here are a few other significant ways levity can make teams for effective.

It helps teams bond. "Neurochemically, laughing together gives us more bang for our buck when it comes to interpersonal connection than just about anything else," Bagdonas, who will publish a book on the subject in 2021, explains. "Our brains release the hormone oxytocin, which makes us more bonded. Whether we're in person or over screens or six feet apart in lawn chairs in our driveways, it works the same way. What we find for leaders, but also just for anyone in our lives, is that humor is a really effective way to build trust, to build bonds."

It creates an environment that encourages creativity and positivity, and that can enable better outcomes. One study showed that people performed better on two tasks that require "creative ingenuity" after they'd watched a few minutes of comedy or received a small bag of candy. 

"When we laugh, our brains suppress the release of cortisol. Cortisol is the stress 'fight or flight' hormone. When cortisol is high, [it's like] your fire alarm going off in the background. It's really hard to be creative in that space," Bagdonas says. "We know that when people laugh, it unlocks a broader range of connections. It unlocks more creativity, more innovation. People tend to be more risk-taking."

Psychological studies suggest that laughter has all sorts of positive effects, including enhanced memory, improved judgment and decision making, and more willingness to take risks. "People remember things more when we're laughing, because our brains flood with dopamine," Bagdonas adds.

It helps leaders seem more trustworthy and competent. "Behavioral research suggests that humorous leaders are actually viewed as more trustworthy, confident, and competent," Diemand-Yauman says.

It may help you advance in your career — or get hired somewhere new. A Hodge Cronin and Associates survey of over 700 executives reportedly found that 98 percent of respondents would rather hire someone with a good sense of humor over an equally talented but more serious candidate, and 84 percent thought that people with a sense of humor do better work. In terms of persuasion and negotiation power, research has shown that people will pay more for something if the seller uses humor. 

Why is humor especially important with virtual work and during a pandemic?

In place of company holiday parties and bagel Fridays, there are narrowing options for creating a highly connected company culture while your team is working virtually. And many people in isolation feel disconnected — not just at work. Laughter is a great bang for the proverbial mental health buck. 

"Teams around the world are starved for a sense of connection," Diemand-Yauman says. "We have far fewer common points of reference; we aren't sitting next to each other and we aren't in the same time zones. We don't have water cooler talk." 

In the void, laughter can do the heavy lifting. "When we laugh together, we are prompting our brains to fire with the same hormones at the same time, which enables us to trust one another more and to make all of the subsequent, two-dimensional interactions richer," he explains.

Diemand-Yauman says he understands that trying a joke in front of 50 muted icons on Zoom can be prohibitive, but he's started playing a laugh track after his own "offers" at levity to neutralize any awkwardness. Ultimately, what matters is that the leader is trying. The threat of a glitch or miscommunication may discourage attempts at humor, but Diemand-Yauman says there are also more opportunities to signal playfulness than ever. And they're simple: change your Zoom background to a funny photo or send a GIF over Slack. 

And right now may be a particularly good moment to bond. Remote work has removed some of the more standardized boundaries of workplaces. Instead of sterile offices, we find ourselves routinely looking into our coworker's living spaces and confronted with a fuller picture of their humanity (wandering children, barking dogs, the messiness of everyday life). 

In terms of company culture, remote work can offer its own silver linings, especially if leaders approach it as an opportunity rather than a challenge. 

The bottom line

It seems unlikely that "Remotely Humorous" is the silver bullet that can solve all the woes you may be experiencing either as a virtual team or as a human being at the moment. But, it offers surprisingly substantial help for some of them and it can help people carve out a few more opportunities for joy and connection in their lives and the lives of their coworkers.

In my own experience, talking with Bagdonas and Diemand-Yauman for this article felt different than many interviews I've conducted. To be frank, it was fun. And, later, writing this now, I relied upon my notes less than normal. I did, for my part, retain the information better. 

This is not to say that anything particularly magical happened. Instead, I was reminded of the Bill Murray quote: "The more relaxed you are, the better you are at everything — the better you are with your loved ones, the better you are with enemies, the better you are at your job, the better you are with yourself." 

It's Bagdonas and Diemand-Yauman's hope that, after "Remotely Humorous," you'll agree. 

You can sign up here for Remotely Humorous: Build Joyful and Resilient Virtual Teams with Humor for 20% off with the code EDXHUMOR at checkout until September 2021

When you buy through our links, we may earn money from our affiliate partners. Learn more.

• The Sill, Leon & George, and Bloomscape are three popular online shops that sell and deliver a variety of indoor houseplants.
• We've tested all three and found them to be convenient and reliable services, but they differ when it comes to shipping and return policies, plant care advice, and the types of accessories offered. 
• While The Sill has the best giftable houseplants and plant care resources (on- and offline) and Leon & George is the only service that ships to all 50 states, Bloomscape offers the best overall shopping experience and the lowest shipping fees.
• Read more: The easiest houseplants you can buy online, according to an urban farmer
• Sign up for Insider Reviews' weekly newsletter for more buying advice and great deals.

You're not just imagining it — everyone around you is suddenly interested in owning a houseplant. Beautiful Instagram photos of sun-soaked, greenery-filled rooms, combined with the realization that taking care of a living thing is emotionally fulfilling, are making millennials buy up Swiss cheese-like Monstera plants and resilient snake plants with renewed vigor. 

The growth of cool, millennial-focused online shops is also playing a role.

Instead of going to a traditional nursery, you can browse and order attractive, low-maintenance plants online, plus receive the guidance and tips needed to take care of them properly. For anyone who lives in a metropolitan area or doesn't have access to a car, these online stores make it much easier to receive or gift plants without the hassle. 

The Sill, Leon & George, and Bloomscape are a few of the more popular names in the houseplant delivery space. We tried each of them to send plants to ourselves and loved ones, and we were satisfied overall with their easy shopping experiences and reliable shipping processes.

But if you want to get into the nitty-gritty of how they differ in features like shipping and return policies, plant care advice, and types of accessories offered, we've laid out the facts below. 

Here are the similarities and differences between The Sill, Leon & George, and Bloomscape:

Types of plants sold

All three companies have a large variety of plants, from small and desk-friendly vines to tall and dramatic leafy species. Each site makes it easy to shop by size, pet friendliness (toxic vs. nontoxic), and the amount of light required.

None of the plants offered should be extremely difficult to take care of, but you'll find that the websites often have separate categories for low-maintenance plants, specifically. Even people who don't think they have green thumbs will feel comfortable shopping the stores. 

We found each site's most unique and interesting plants: 

The Sill: 

Leon & George: 

Bloomscape: 

Where they deliver

If you want to send your plant to someone in the US or even select areas of Europe, Leon & George emerges as the clear winner. It's the only service that also ships to Alaska and Hawaii, plus France, Belgium, and Luxembourg.

However, there's also a catch: all of its large and extra-large plants are only available in the San Francisco Bay Area and Los Angeles with white-glove delivery. 

Shipping fees

Expect to pay shipping fees starting at $5. For each service, the standard shipping fee depends on your order total. Overall, it seems like Bloomscape offers the best shipping policies since it's a flat $7 for orders up to $50, which isn't a high bar, and then free for orders $50+.  

Plant prices

We compared the prices of each service's potted, medium-sized Calathea Medallion. While The Sill had the lowest price for the plant itself, Bloomscape is ultimately the cheapest place to buy it after you factor in shipping. 

Since both plant and shipping prices vary by company, we recommend that you check each website if you want to pay the lowest price. The example above is for one specific plant and the same results may not apply for other plants. 

Packaging

We've ordered plants from all three services, and the way they all arrived is pretty similar: in a cardboard box, wrapped carefully in generous padding or bubble wrap. We were impressed by how safely delicate plants reached us.

Sometimes, there was a little soil spillage, but overall they arrived unscathed and ready to place on our desks or windowsills immediately. 

Caring for your plant

Care instructions are enclosed in the deliveries from each of these services, but what if you lose the instruction card, or you need additional assistance? 

The Sill: You'll find many online and offline resources for plant care, including a library of articles with answers to common questions; virtual 1:1 consultations ($29-$39) with a houseplant expert; and weekly care and project-based workshops. I tested one of The Sill's classes and found it informal and informative, here's the full review.

Leon & George: La Résidence is the brand's dedicated blog for plant care tips and guides, decor tips, and more. You can also email the company for specific questions about your plants. 

Bloomscape: The company offers general care tips along with guides for every single type of plant sold. Its library of resources is the most organized of the three services, and if you want to speak to a real person, you can ask Joyce Mast "the Plant Mom," a horticulturist and the mother of Bloomscape's founder. You can also attend an exclusive virtual class with Mast if you purchase its Grow-How Kit for $75. The brand will donate $20 of every purchase to Detroit Prep to support the city's students with at-home school supplies during the novel coronavirus.

Return policies

It's tricky to return a live plant when you didn't buy it directly from a brick and mortar store. However, the three online shops may be able to provide a replacement depending on the situation, and they won't require a direct return. 

The Sill: Returns and replacements are handled on a case-by-case basis. 

Leon & George: 30-day guarantee for plants that have not died due to negligence of care. Leon & George will replace your plant, but a delivery fee may apply. 

Bloomscape: 30-day guarantee for plants and pots that arrive damaged. Bloomscape will replace your plant and won't charge a delivery fee.

Additional accessories

In addition to plants, these shops offer items that help you take care of your new greenery (or just accessorize it). 

Here are some fun products we found in each online store: 

The Sill: Sells planters, potting mix, watering accessories, and decorative "message pops"

Leon & George: Sells planters, stands, fertilizer, watering accessories, and artwork

Bloomscape: Sells planters, propagation kits, and grow lights 

Where to shop in real life

Just because they originated online doesn't mean they can't be found in real life. If you want to see the plants in person and still have them delivered directly to your home, you can visit one of these physical storefronts. 

The Sill: Stores in New York City, Los Angeles, and San Francisco.

Leon & George: Partner showrooms in New York City, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and more metropolitan areas. 

Bloomscape: Currently does not have any physical stores. 

The bottom line

Depending on the specific type of plant you're looking for and the level of plant education you expect from your experience, you'll prefer one service over another. You may also take shipping locations, shipping fees, and return policies into consideration. 

While The Sill offers the best giftable plants and care resources (on- and offline) and Leon & George is the only service that ships to all 50 states, Bloomscape has the best overall shopping experience and the cheapest shipping fees.

Having tested them all, we trust each to get you the plant you want, but we like Bloomscape the most because the site is user-friendly and offers a large variety of plants, from simple ferns to towering cane plants. It has unique accessories, plus you'll feel supported as you learn how to become a successful plant parent. The reasonable prices, 30-day guarantee, and good shipping policies don't hurt, either.

Comparatively, we found the selections of Leon & George and The Sill to be less robust, and The Sill's various tiers of shipping costs can get cumbersome. 

Shop houseplants at The Sill

Shop houseplants at Leon & George

Shop houseplants at Bloomscape

Read more stories about houseplants

• The easiest houseplants you can buy online, according to an urban farmer
• The Sill review
• Léon and George review
• The Sill's online plant-care workshop review
• The best places to buy fake plants online

When you buy through our links, we may earn money from our affiliate partners. Learn more.

• Overstock is having a huge anniversary sale with discounts up to 70% off and free shipping until October 19. 
• There are tons of great deals on indoor and outdoor furniture, decor, lighting, and more, and you'll find even steeper discounts on October 4-5 during Overstock's Customer Day. 
• There are a lot of items that are already low in stock, so we'd recommend shopping sooner rather than later.
• If you're looking for similar deals, check out these great sales on home and kitchen.
• See also: The best online deals and sales happening now
• Visit Insider Reviews' deals page for more general sales and Insider Coupons for more savings.

If you're looking to save big on furniture, decor, lighting, and more, you may want to check out Overstock's anniversary sale now until October 19. There are discounts of up to 70% and free shipping on all orders — no minimum required.  

Overstock will also be adding thousands of items with even steeper discounts on October 4-5 during its Customer Day. There'll be free shipping, and double rewards points and free returns for Club O members — you can sign up here. Many items are already low in stock, so you may want to shop soon. 

Best deals at Overstock:

• The Apple Card works as a stand-alone credit card, but is best used in conjunction with Apple Pay or your iPhone's Wallet app.
• You can use the Apple Card to make purchases and earn cash back, with no additional fees or penalties aside from interest.
• The Apple Card doesn't have a card number or CCV code like other credit cards, but you can use Apple Pay to generate a secure card number at any time. 
• Visit Business Insider's Tech Reference library for more stories.

The Apple Card is the first credit card offered by Apple, and issued by Goldman Sachs. It's designed to work with the iPhone's Wallet app and Apple Pay. 

For those times when you can't pay digitally, you also get a physical card — with your name laser-etched into its titanium surface — that you can carry as well. 

Unlike most credit cards, there's no card number or CCV code on the Apple Card. If you need that information, it's stored in your Wallet app. In other words, using this card without an iPhone to go with it is difficult.

Check out the products mentioned in this article:

iPhone Xs (From $999.99 at Best Buy)

Apple Watch Series 4 (From $499.99 at Best Buy)

The Apple Card's unique features

In many ways, the Apple Card is a straightforward credit card, but it has some unique features that bear mentioning. 

The card is primarily designed to be used with your iPhone's Wallet app, and you can pay for products with it using Apple Pay through your iPhone or Apple Watch. 

You'll receive the best rewards if you use the Apple Card with Apple Pay, which include the following:

• As much as 3% back when making purchases with participating merchants.
• 3% back on all purchases made directly with Apple (such as at Apple stores or using the App Store).
• 2% back on all other Apple Pay purchases.

If you use the physical titanium card rather than Apple Pay, you get 1% back. 

Rather than waiting 30 days for your rewards to be applied to your account, all rewards are applied daily to your Wallet's Apple Cash account. You can use Apple Cash to make purchases, or to pay your Apple Card balance. 

Apple's fee structure is also appealing: There are none. 

There is no annual fee for Apple Card, nor is there a late fee. On the Apple Card website, Apple says the card has "no fees. Not even hidden ones," and that includes all the usual fees traditional credit cards tend to charge, like cash advance fees and international purchase fees. 

Because the Apple Card is so deeply integrated with the Wallet and Apple Pay, you get a lot of information about each purchase — you can even tap on a purchase in your transaction history to see where the purchase was made on a map. 

And when it comes time to pay the bill, a clever interface lets you "dial in" how much of the balance you want to pay, letting you see exactly how much interest and principal you're paying as you select the amount. 

How to get Apple Card

There is no online application for Apple Card. To apply, open the Wallet app on your iPhone and then tap the "+" button in the upper right corner. Choose "Apple Card" and complete the form. 

The qualification process only takes a few moments, and you can start using the card with your approved credit limit immediately. 

How to pay with your Apple Card 

There are three ways you can use your Apple Card: Using the Wallet app and Apple Pay, by swiping the physical card when Apple Pay is not an option, and by giving the merchant your credit card number. 

Once you complete the application process, your Apple Card is automatically added to your Wallet app, and you can make purchases with Apple Pay as you would with any other credit card that you've added to your iPhone. 

Once your physical card arrives, you can also swipe the card at a point of sale terminal. The card doesn't work with contactless terminals, though — if contactless purchases are an option, you should use Apple Pay with your iPhone or Apple Watch instead. 

Finally, if you need your card number and CCV code to make a purchase, like if you're buying something by phone, your Apple Card can generate a secure, virtual credit card number for non-Apple Pay purchases. 

Here's how to find that number and CCV code:

1. Open the Wallet app.

2. Tap the Apple Card.

3. In the upper right corner, tap the three dots. 

4. Tap "Card Information."

5. You should see the card number, expiration date, and CCV code. 

6. You can tap "Request New Card Number" at any time if you suspect the current one has been compromised — you'll instantly get a new virtual number without needing to request a new physical card from Apple. 

Related coverage from How To Do Everything: Tech:

• How to use Apple Pay on an Apple Watch with your debit or credit card

• How to set up and use Apple Pay on an iPhone

• How to reset your Apple Watch and unpair it from an iPhone

• How to recover deleted text messages on an iPhone, either from a backup or using a third-party one

Hi and welcome to this weekly edition of Insider Advertising, where I break down the big stories in media and advertising.

If you're not a subscriber, sign up here to get this in your inbox daily.

Barstool's big bet

Penn National Gaming bought a stake in Barstool worth $163 million — and now it's about to see if its bet will pay off.

As Barstool's Dave Portnoy broke it down to Ashley Rodriguez, the idea is to use Barstool to turn its rabid following into bettors rather than spend a lot of money on expensive TV ads.

But the field has gotten very crowded. Barstool is going up against 10 mobile sportsbooks and industry giants like FanDuel and DraftKings.

It's a big "if," but as Chris Grove, gambling-industry analyst and partner at Eilers & Krejcik Gaming, told Ashley: "They have this thing that is unique: a community connected via culture. Other sportsbooks really don't have that."

Read the full story here: Barstool Sports is betting on its big names like Dave Portnoy to help its newly branded sportsbook take on DraftKings and FanDuel

Facebook gets a new CMO

Facebook named longtime insider Alex Schultz to replace Antonio Lucio. Key things to know about him:

• Unlike his predecessor, who spent two years at the company, Schultz is one of Facebook's longest serving employees, having started in 2007.
• He'll continue to head up growth marketing, analytics and internationalization.
• He's also openly gay and plays a leadership role in the company's LGBTQ affinity group.

Read the full story here: Facebook promotes VP of product growth Alex Schultz to chief marketing officer

Edelman's data deal

Life is getting more complicated and competitive for traditional PR agencies as clients increasingly demand more accurate measurement and proof that their services lead to actual business results. It's not enough to just get a headline in The New York Times anymore.

That was the driver of a big deal announced by PR industry's biggest firm and biggest software company last year that was touted as game-changing. The deal would let Edelman clients see things like how many actual people read an article and their demographic makeup.

A year later, the deal doesn't seem to be working out as envisioned. From Sean Czarnecki's article:

However, three PR software company executives, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Edelman contacted their companies about hiring them to replace parts of the Cision partnership, one as early as late 2019.

Two of those execs said they thought Edelman's reaching out signaled a lack of faith in the partnership's long-term viability.

It's another wrinkle for Cision, which also has the Justice Department asking questions about whether its plans to merge with its biggest rival will hurt competition, Business Insider reported earlier.

Read the rest of the story here: Edelman's partnership with Cision was once positioned as the 'first of its kind,' but after its first year, the deal is no longer exclusive

Other stories we're reading:

• Disney is cutting about 25 percent of its resort work force (New York Times)
•  New data shows activewear brands spiking on social media as influencers run to the fitness trend in the pandemic (Business Insider)
• Google's secretive healthcare business wants to organize the world's health information, but insiders describe how turf wars and trust issues are hamstringing the operation (Business Insider)
• JOB DIARY: A day in the life of a professional namer, who gets paid to brand major companies and products and spends 2 weeks at a time in a 'creative' phase of brainstorming names (Business Insider)
• Pandemic spurs journalists to go it alone via email (Axios)

That's a wrap for this week. See you in October.

— Lucia

• Disney will lay off 28,000 workers from its theme park division, the company said on Tuesday.
• The layoffs come as Disney's California parks remain closed. Other locations, including in Orlando, Florida, have reopened with limited capacity.
• Disney's parks contributed more than one-third of the company's revenue in 2019.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Disney will lay off 28,000 workers at its US theme parks, the company said on Tuesday.

The layoffs come as the company's Anaheim, California parks — California Adventure and Disneyland — remain shuttered. Disney's other resorts in Florida, Paris, Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Tokyo have reopened with limited capacity.

"As heartbreaking as it is to take this action, this is the only feasible option we have in light of the prolonged impact of COVID-19 on our business," Disney's head of parks, Josh D'Amaro wrote in a letter to employees reported by the Washington Post.

About two-thirds of the laid off workers were part-time employees, CNBC reported, and most had already been furloughed. 

Disney's parks, experiences, and consumer products segment — which incorporates its sprawling theme park business — accounted for 37% of Disney's $69.6 billion in revenue in 2019, more than any other business unit.

Disney reported a $4.72 billion loss for the second quarter, its first quarterly loss in almost 20 years, according to the Wall Street Journal.

• The spread of the coronavirus is projected to impact millions of jobs worldwide.
• Over 6 months, more than 60 million Americans have filed for unemployment insurance — that's more than the number of claims filed during the 18-month Great Recession.
• The travel and hospitality industries have taken a significant hit. In addition to major airlines, businesses such as ride-share company Uber and hotel giants Hilton and Marriott have announced furloughs.
• Here's a roundup of the major companies who have announced downsizing their workforce due to the coronavirus thus far.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

Disney announced on September 29 that it was cutting 28,000 jobs from its theme parks division as the coronavirus pandemic continues to heavily impact that side of its business. The layoffs will most heavily affect part-time employees. CNBC reported in August that park shutdowns cost the company $3.5 billion.

Source: CNN, CNBC

Ralph Lauren said it would cut its global workforce by about 15% on September 22, ultimately saving the retailer $180 million annually.

Source: Wall Street Journal

As of September 21, Carnival Cruise Line is laying off an unspecified "small number" of its crew members as it reduces its fleet size. The cuts represent the company's second round of layoffs this year.

Source: Business Insider

Lufthansa announced on September 21 that it is further shrinking its global fleet and workforce. The airline did not announce how many job cuts to expect, but noted that it had a personnel surplus of more than 22,000 positions.

Source: Reuters

Defense and aerospace giant Raytheon Technologies announced it will cut 15,000 jobs on September 17.

Source: CNN

The Guggenheim Museum, which will reopen on October 3, announced that it will be doing so with a smaller staff — it laid off 11% of employees as of September 16.

Source: New York Times

Kohl's is cutting 15% of its corporate workforce. The unspecified cuts will save the company $65 million annually, according to a September 15 securities filing.

Source: Wall Street Journal

Dell told employees on September 14 that it will start eliminating an unspecified number of jobs in an effort to cut costs, according to Bloomberg.

Source: Bloomberg

Citigroup will continue laying off roughly 1% of its global workforce, the company announced on September 14. The cuts end a previous commitment to pause layoffs amid the pandemic.

Source: Bloomberg

United Airlines announced on September 2 that it will furlough 16,370 employees once federal aid expires on October 1.

In a July 30 internal memo, United Airlines said it would furlough a third of its pilots — 3,900 people. The airline had announced on July 8 that it would issue layoff and furlough notices to 36,000 employees, including 2,250 pilots and 15,000 flight attendants. Before that, in a leaked May 4 memo, United Airlines said it expected to lay off at least 30% or some 3,400 employees on its administrative staff.

Sources: Business Insider, Chicago Tribune, Business Insider, The Points Guy, Business Insider

Ford is offering buyouts to 1,400 workers eligible for retirement this year in the US. The September 2 cuts make up just under 5% of the company's US workforce.

Source: Wall Street Journal

MGM Resorts is laying off 18,000 previously furloughed employees starting August 28.

Source: CNBC

Coca-Cola said it plans to offer voluntary-separation packages to 4,000 employees in North America on August 28. It did not specify the total number of employees it plans to layoff.

Source: Wall Street Journal

Salesforce started to lay off 1,000 of 54,000 employees on August 26, according to the Wall Street Journal. The news comes one day after the company posted record sales. In March, CEO Marc Benioff pledged a 90-day freeze on layoffs.

Source: Wall Street Journal

On August 25, American Airlines, which previously announced cutting 20% of the company's workforce, said that it would cut 19,000 employees in October when federal aid ends.

Source: CNBC

Delta Airlines plans to furlough 1,941 pilots in October following the expiration of federal aid, the company said on August 24.

Source: CNN

In April, Boeing committed to cutting its massive staff by 10%. In an August 17 memo, Boeing told employees it was starting a second round of buyout offers that would extend beyond the original expected numbers.

Source: Wall Street Journal

WarnerMedia started layoffs on August 10. The first round of cuts are expected to impact 600 employees, mostly at Warner Bros. The cuts include top executives.

Source: Business Insider, Deadline

AT&T laid off an additional 54 people in its marketing division on August 6, after laying off 3,400 employees in June.

Source: Business Insider

NBCUniversal started layoffs on August 4, impacting its broadcast networks, movie studio, and theme parks. The company is expected to cut less than 10% of its 35,000-person workforce.

Source: Wall Street Journal

Spirit Airlines is preparing to furlough 20-30% of its workforce, according to a July 28 internal memo. Those at risk include pilots and flight attendants.

Source: Reuters

L Brands, the parent company of Victoria's Secret and Bath & Body Works, said it would lay off 15% of its workforce on July 28. The job cuts impact 850 people at the company's Columbus, Ohio, headquarters.

Source: Business Insider

Creative Artists Agency, a major Los Angeles talent firm, announced layoffs on July 28. It will layoff 90 agents and furlough 275 assistants — or nearly 20% of its workforce.

Source: Los Angeles Times, Billboard

Oilfield services company Schlumberger said it is cutting roughly 21,000 jobs on July 24. It also reported second-quarter losses of $3.4 billion.

 Source: Wall Street Journal

Daimler, the company that owns Mercedes-Benz, may cut 30% of its global workforce, Manager Magazine reported on July 22.

Source: Manager Magazine, TeleTrader

Tailored Brands, the parent company behind Men's Wearhouse and Jos. A. Bank, said it expects to layoff 20% of its workforce and shutter 500 stores on July 21.

Source: Business Insider

LinkedIn said it would cut 960 jobs, or 6% of its global workforce, on July 21. The cuts will impact hiring and sales positions.

Source: Reuters

Instead of involuntary layoffs, Southwest Airlines offered extended leave and exit packages. As of July 20, 28% of its workforce — mostly pilots and flight attendants — have accepted such deals.

Source: Reuters

On July 15, American Airlines said that it will soon layoff 25,000 workers, including 9,950 flight attendants and 2,500 pilots. The cuts represent almost 20% of the company.

Source: Business Insider

Department store JC Penney announced that it would shutter 152 stores and lay off 1,000 jobs in corporate and field management on July 15. The company filed for bankruptcy in May and furloughed thousands in April.

Source: Reuters, Business Insider

PVH Corp, the company that owns Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger among other brands, announced that it is shuttering 162 stores and cutting 450 jobs, or 12% of its workforce, on July 14.

Source: Business Insider

On July 9, Bloomberg Law reported that Wells Fargo is preparing to cut thousands of jobs out of its 263,000-person workforce.

Source: Reuters, Bloomberg Law

Walgreens said it plans to cut 4,000 jobs on July 9, after reporting a $1.7 billion loss in the third quarter.

Source: Bloomberg, Business Insider

Levi's, the denim company, announced on July 7 it was slashing 700 jobs. The cuts account for 15% of its total workforce.

Source: Business Insider

While Macy's furloughed the majority of its workforce in March, it announced it would lay off about 3,900 corporate workers on June 25.

Source: Business Insider

HSBC, Europe's biggest bank, announced plans to cut 35,000 jobs — or 15% of its global workforce — across the US and Europe on June 17.

Source: Business Insider, Wall Street Journal

On June 16, a union representing AT&T employees said the wireless carrier will lay off 3,400 and shut down more than 250 stores.

Source: Business Insider

Hilton Hotels announced it is laying off 2,100 corporate employees on June 16, amounting to 22% of its corporate workforce.

Source: CNN

Chevron, the second-largest oil producer in the US, announced that it will cut 10% to 15% of its 45,000 global workforce on May 27.

Source: Reuters

Boeing said it would lay off nearly 7,000 employees on May 27. The company initially announced that it would cut about 10% of its workforce on April 29. The company had 143,000 workers at the beginning of the year.

Source: Business Insider, Business Insider

IBM will eliminate "several thousand jobs" as of May 22, mainly in the company's technology-services division. Cuts come a month after new CEO Arvind Krishna withdrew IBM's financial outlook amid economic uncertainty caused by the pandemic.

Source: Business Insider

Weeks after ride-hailing giant Uber announced it is cutting 3,700 jobs (14% of its workforce), CEO Dara Khosrowshahi announced on May 18 that he will cut 3,000 additional jobs and close 45 offices.

Source: Business Insider, WSJ

Airbnb announced it is laying off about 25% of its workforce, or 1,900 employees, on May 5. Its severance package includes several months' pay, a year of healthcare, and support finding a new job.

Source: Business Insider

Richard Branson's Virgin Atlantic announced it would cut 3,150 jobs on May 5, in addition to retiring its iconic Boeing 747-700 planes a year early.

Source: Business Insider

Ride-hailing company Lyft is laying off 982 employees and furloughing another 288, accounting for 17% of the company's workforce. The company made the announcement on April 29 and added that other cost-cutting measures include pay cuts for executive leadership.

Source: Business Insider

On April 28, online travel company TripAdvisor announced it was laying off more than 900 of its employees, amounting to a quarter of its workforce.

Source: Business Insider

Hertz said it plans to lay off 10,000 employees on April 20. The car rental company previously employed 38,000 people.

Source: Reuters

On April 12, a union representing workers at Walt Disney World said the company will be furloughing 43,000 employees starting April 19. The amusement parks have been closed since March 16 and 200 essential workers will continue maintaining them.

Source: New York Times, Vox

On April 7, Tesla sent an email to employees saying it will furlough all nonessential workers until at least May 4, and reduce all employees' pay by at least 10%. These cost-cutting measures are expected to start April 13.

Source: Business Insider, CNBC

JCPenney has already started furloughing workers and confirmed it would continue to furlough a "significant portion" of its 85,000 employees as of April 5.

Source: JCPenney, Business Insider

On April 3, Under Armour announced that it will temporarily lay off about 6,700 employees starting April 12.

Source: Baltimore Sun

The Wing, a buzzy Instagram-ready women's coworking company, is laying off nearly all of its hourly employees and half of its corporate staff as of April 3, according to Vice. The company confirmed the layoffs but did not elaborate on numbers. Its founders are foregoing their salaries.

Source: Vice

ClassPass, the billion-dollar fitness platform, furloughed or laid off over half of its 700 employees on April 2 — 22% were laid off and 31% were furloughed.

Source: CNBC

On April 2, airplane manufacturer Boeing announced that it would offer a voluntary layoff plan to employees to cut costs. Those opting into the layoff plan will leave with a pay and benefits package, but the company offered no details about compensation.

Source: Business Insider

Famed auction house Sotheby's is furloughing 200 people — or 12% of its workforce —as of April 1, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Source: Wall Street Journal

Sephora laid off over 3,000 employees across the US via conference call on March 31. "It is our sincerest hope that we are able to bring these employees back on staff in the near future," Sephora said in a statement.

Source: Business Insider

Macy's CEO Jeff Gennette informed his staff via email that the company would be furloughing most of its 125,000 employees on March 30. The company only plans to have work for "the minimum number of employees necessary to maintain basic business operations" across Macy's, Bloomingdale's, and Bluemercury, Gennette wrote. He will stop receiving his salary, along with the rest of the board of directors.

Source: Business Insider, CNN

Bird, the buzzy electric scooter company, laid off 30% of its staff via a Zoom call on March 27. The call lasted only around 2 minutes.

Source: Business Insider

Everlane, the clothing retailer focused on ethical sourcing, laid off over 200 employees and furloughed 68 others on March 27. CEO Michael Preysman will reduce his salary to zero.

Source: Vice

ZipRecruiter laid off 443 employees and furloughed dozens more on March 27, days after CEO Ian Siegel said the billion-dollar online job-hub company was safe.

Source: Business Insider

Sonder, a billion-dollar apartment-rental startup billed as a hospitality industry disruptor, laid off or furloughed 400 people — one third of its workforce — on March 24, according to The Information.

Source: The Information

 

GE announced that it will be reducing approximately 10% of its aviation unit's workforce, amounting to about 2,500 employees, on March 23. It also announced a three month furlough impacting 50% of its maintenance and repair employees. GE CEO Larry Culp will forgo his salary for the rest of the year, while GE Aviation CEO David Joyce will give up half of his salary.

Source: GE, Wall Street Journal

According to the Washington Post, at least 200 workers across President Trump's hotels in Washington DC, New York City, and Las Vegas were laid off as of March 20. Other Trump properties, like Palm Beach's Mar-a-Lago, have temporarily closed.

Source: Washington Post, Business Insider

Air Canada announced it is set to lay off more than 5,100, or 50%, of its flight crew on March 19. Renee Smith-Valade, the airline's vice president, called the decision "difficult but necessary" in a statement.

Source: CBC

Cirque du Soleil announced it is laying off 95% of its 4,679 person staff on March 19, a week after canceling all its upcoming performances. The circus producer kept 259 staffers to plan and sell tickets for future tours.

Source: Cirque du Soleil, Forbes

New York's Metropolitan Opera is the largest performing arts organization in the US by budget. On March 19, the Met laid off all of its union employees for the duration of the coronavirus outbreak. The Met also announced the cancellation of all performances through the end of the 2019-2020 season, which was set to end May 9.

Source: NPR

Famous restaurateur Danny Meyer's Union Square Hospitality Group, which owns beloved NYC staples like Gramercy Tavern, laid off 2,000 employees, or 80% of its workforce, on March 18.

Source: Business Insider

Pebblebrook Hotel Trust, which owns over 50 hotels in the US including the W in Los Angeles, laid off 50% of its 8,000 employees on March 17. CEO Jon Bortz also told the Los Angeles Times that the company may need to lay off an additional 2,000 employees by the end of the month.

Source: Los Angeles Times

Marriott International, the world's largest hotel company, said it has started to furlough what could amount to tens of thousands of employees on March 17. Furloughs, as opposed to layoffs, occur when employees are required to take an unpaid leave of absence. Arne Sorenson, the president and CEO, announced that his own salary will be suspended for the rest of the year and senior executives' salaries will be reduced by 50%.

Source: Wall Street Journal, Business Insider, Business Insider

Norwegian Airlines announced the temporary layoff of 90% of its workforce on March 16, amounting to 7,300 employees. The airline also canceled 85% of its flights.

Source: Reuters

Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) announced that it would temporarily lay off 10,000 employees — 90% of its staff — on March 15. SAS also halted the majority of its flights and is operating with limited service.

Source: Forbes